Hong Kong Education Delegation Visits Beijing for National Day and Professional Exchange

2025-09-26 18:15 Last Updated At：18:28

PS(Ed) leads National Day and Professional Exchange Delegation from Hong Kong Education Sector to visit Nanjing and Beijing

The Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Chan Wing-shiu, led the 17th National Day and Professional Exchange Delegation from the Hong Kong Education Sector to visit Beijing today (September 26) to call on a state leader and officials of the Ministry of Education.

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PS(Ed) leads National Day and Professional Exchange Delegation from Hong Kong Education Sector to visit Nanjing and Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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PS(Ed) leads National Day and Professional Exchange Delegation from Hong Kong Education Sector to visit Nanjing and Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ms Chan and the delegation were received and welcomed by the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, Mr Peng Qinghua, at the Great Hall of the People. They then met with officials of the Ministry of Education. Ms Chan said that this year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It was profoundly meaningful to travel to Nanjing and Beijing with representatives from the education sector before National Day, visiting the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, and the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing, commemorating and remembering the nation's martyrs and bearing in mind the profound inspiration of "taking history as a mirror and cherishing peace".

Ms Chan expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Department of Education of Jiangsu Province and various Mainland units for their strong support, facilitating the smooth conduct of the exchange programme.

This year, the delegation comprised around 130 participants from the education sector, including representatives from tertiary education institutions and professional education organisations, as well as principals, vice-principals and teachers from primary and secondary schools and kindergartens. The delegation began a six-day visit on September 22. Apart from visiting significant sites of the War of Resistance in Nanjing and Beijing and observing the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, they also toured the Regional University-Industry Technology Transfer Center (Jiangsu), Peking University, Nanjing University, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and an innovation technology enterprise to learn about the latest national developments in education and innovation technology and strengthen exchanges with Mainland educators, broadening professional horizons.

Ms Chan and the delegation will conclude their visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (September 27).

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

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.

Hong Kong Education Delegation Visits Beijing for National Day and Professional Exchange

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