Special traffic arrangements for flag-raising ceremonies in celebration of 76th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China
To facilitate the holding of flag-raising ceremonies on October 1 in celebration of the 76th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China, the Police will implement special traffic arrangements in phases in Wan Chai North, Central and Tin Hau from early hours of September 30.
A. Road closure
The following roads will be closed, except for authorised vehicles:
(I) From 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:
- Expo Drive;
- Expo Drive Central;
- Expo Drive East;
- The slip road leading from Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel to Expo Drive; and
- Eastbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel and Fleming Road.
(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:
- Westbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Expo Drive East; and
- Lung Tat Path.
(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:
- Lung Wo Road between Edinburgh Place and Tim Wa Avenue.
(IV) From 6.30am to 7.30am on October 1:
- Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lai Yin Lane.
B. Traffic diversions
During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
(I) From 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:
- Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road heading for Fleming Road and Hung Hing Road will be diverted to southbound Lung Hop Street, and those heading for Island Eastern Corridor should enter eastbound Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel via eastbound Lung Wo Road;
- Traffic turning right from northbound Lung Hop Street can only enter eastbound Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel via eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
- Traffic from Central heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via Man Po Street, eastbound Yiu Sing Street and eastbound Lung Wo Road.
(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:
Traffic along westbound Hung Hing Road heading for westbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted via southbound Fleming Road, northbound Fleming Road, westbound Harbour Road, Fenwick Pier Street roundabout, westbound Fenwick Pier Street and northbound Lung Hop Street.
(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:
- Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Edinburgh Place;
- Traffic along westbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Tim Wa Avenue;
- Traffic along eastbound Harcourt Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue; and
- Traffic along southbound Tim Wa Avenue cannot make a U-turn to northbound Tim Wa Avenue.
(IV) From 6.30am to 7.30am on October 1:
Traffic along westbound Causeway Road must proceed straight ahead.
C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas
The metered parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas on Expo Drive, and the on-street parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas on Expo Drive East will be suspended from 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1.
All metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lin Fa Kung Street West will be suspended from 10pm on September 30 to 8am on October 1.
Any vehicles found illegally parked during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
The Police will implement appropriate arrangements, subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of police officers on site.
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
