FEHD welcomes PMSA's release of Best Practice Guides on "Handling Water Seepage in Properties" and "Handling Dripping Air Conditioners"
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) welcomed the release of the Best Practice Guides on "Handling Water Seepage in Properties" and "Handling Dripping Air Conditioners" by the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) yesterday (October 16). The FEHD believes that the Guides, outlining the relevant statutory responsibilities of and regulations to be observed by owners and residents of properties as well as the procedures for property management companies to follow when addressing water seepage and air conditioner dripping issues, will assist licensed property management companies and personnel in resolving water seepage and air conditioner dripping issues within properties.
The Government has been committed to addressing water seepage and air conditioner dripping issues. The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address proposed utilising technology to expedite the identification of seepage sources, requiring property owners to inspect and rectify the problem within a specified time, or else the Government will take further action and recover the costs from the owners. The Government will also actively promote mediation to resolve disputes between residents. In addition, the FEHD has adopted a new strategic approach this year, introducing new technologies to proactively tackle dripping air conditioners across various locations in Hong Kong, achieving notable results.
The FEHD expressed gratitude to the PMSA and the property management industry for their active support in jointly promoting improvements to the environmental hygiene of the community. The FEHD hopes that with the practical guidance provided in these two Guides, property management practitioners can assist in addressing water seepage and air conditioner dripping issues more effectively and enable timely intervention to resolve the issues at an early stage, thereby reducing complaints and disputes, enhancing communication among residents and promoting community harmony.
To encourage the property management industry to refer to the Guides for addressing water seepage and dripping issues within properties, the PMSA will hold a continuing professional development seminar on October 27, where representatives from the FEHD will brief property management practitioners on the details of the relevant investigation work and explain how they can effectively support the department's work.
The Guides on "Handling Water Seepage in Properties"and "Handling Dripping Air Conditioners"can be downloaded from the PMSA's website.
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
