John Lee to Deliver 2025 Policy Address on September 17; Full Text Available Online Afterwards

"The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" available to public on Wednesday

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will release "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" on Wednesday (September 17).

The full text of the Policy Address will be released at www.policyaddress.gov.hk after the Chief Executive has completed his speech.

Copies of the Policy Address and other related publications will be available for public collection from the time the Chief Executive has completed his speech at the 20 Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) of the Home Affairs Department (HAD). Please browse the HAD website (www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/public_enquiry_services/ctec.htm) for the opening hours of the HAECs.

Leaflets containing the highlights of the Policy Address will also be available at the following places:

* 16 government office buildings:

Queensway Government Offices, Admiralty

Immigration Tower, Wan Chai

Revenue Tower, Wan Chai

Wanchai Tower, Wan Chai

North Point Government Offices

Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices

Ho Man Tin Government Offices

Lai Chi Kok Government Offices

Mongkok Government Offices

Trade and Industry Tower, Kowloon City

To Kwa Wan Government Offices

West Kowloon Government Offices, Yau Ma Tei

Sha Tin Government Offices

Tai Hing Government Offices, Tuen Mun

Tai Po Government Offices

Tsuen Wan Government Offices

* Seven public libraries:

Hong Kong Central Library, Causeway Bay

City Hall Public Library, Central

Kowloon Public Library, Kowloon City

Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library, Yuen Long

Sha Tin Public Library

Tsuen Wan Public Library

Tuen Mun Public Library

*Five museums:

Hong Kong Museum of Art

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Hong Kong Museum of History

Hong Kong Science Museum

Hong Kong Space Museum

* 62 shopping centres in public housing estates:

Hong Kong

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Siu Sai Wan Plaza, Chai Wan

Wan Tsui Shopping Centre, Chai Wan

Oi Tung Shopping Centre, Shau Kei Wan

Hing Tung Shopping Centre, Shau Kei Wan

Stanley Plaza, Stanley

Wah Fu (II) Commercial Complex, Aberdeen

Shek Pai Wan Shopping Centre, Aberdeen

Kowloon

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Domain shopping mall, Yau Tong

Lei Yue Mun Plaza, Yau Tong

Yau Lai Shopping Centre, Yau Tong

Kai Tin Shopping Centre, Lam Tin

Tsui Ping North Shopping Circuit, Kwun Tong

Shun Lee Commercial Centre, Kwun Tong

On Kay Commercial Centre, Ngau Tau Kok

Lok Wah Commercial Centre, Ngau Tau Kok

Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre, Sau Mau Ping

Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre, Tsz Wan Shan

Choi Wan Commercial Complex, Ngau Chi Wan

Chuk Yuen Plaza, Wong Tai Sin

Temple Mall South, Wong Tai Sin

Fung Tak Shopping Centre, Diamond Hill

Lok Fu Place, Wang Tau Hom

Shek Kip Mei Shopping Centre, Sham Shui Po

Hoi Fu Shopping Centre, Mong Kok

Oi Man Plaza, Ho Man Tin

Homantin Plaza, Ho Man Tin

New Territories East

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Choi Yuen Plaza, Sheung Shui

Ching Ho Shopping Centre, Sheung Shui

Fu Shin Shopping Centre, Tai Po

Tai Wo Plaza, Tai Po

Heng On Commercial Centre, Ma On Shan

Yan On Shopping Centre, Ma On Shan

Mei Tin Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

Hin Keng Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

Kwong Yuen Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

Sha Kok Commercial Centre, Sha Tin

Mei Lam Commercial Centre, Sha Tin

Wo Che Plaza, Sha Tin

Pok Hong Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

Yue Tin Court Commercial Centre, Sha Tin

Shui Chuen O Plaza, Sha Tin

Shek Mun Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

Queens Hill Shopping Centre, Fanling

TKO Gateway, Tseung Kwan O

Po Lam Shopping Centre, Tseung Kwan O

TKO Spot, Tseung Kwan O

New Territories West and Islands

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T Town, Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai

Tin Yan Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai

Tin Ching Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai

Long Ping Commercial Centre, Yuen Long

Long Shin Shopping Centre, Yuen Long

Butterfly Plaza, Tuen Mun

Leung King Plaza, Tuen Mun

Tai Hing Commercial Centre, Tuen Mun

Siu Hong Commercial Centre, Tuen Mun

Yan Tin Shopping Centre, Tuen Mun

Hung Fuk Shopping Centre, Hung Shui Kiu

Cheung Fat Plaza, Tsing Yi

Lei Muk Shue Shopping Centre, Tsuen Wan

Kwai Chung Shopping Centre, Kwai Chung

Fu Tung Plaza, Tung Chung

The public can watch the live broadcast of the delivery of the speech by the Chief Executive in the Legislative Council and the press conference with a simple click into the Policy Address webpage (www.policyaddress.gov.hk).

They can also access "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" webpage through the e-Stations located at the 20 HAECs in the 18 Districts.

Source: AI-found images

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases