Delegation Visits Aberdeen Fish Market to Discuss Fisheries Development and Sustainability in Hong Kong

SEE welcomes delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Hong Kong for exchanges on fisheries development

Accompanied by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, a delegation led by Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mr Zhang Zhili today (October 21) visited the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market under the Fish Marketing Organization (FMO)to understand the production and wholesale of fisheries products in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and to exchange views on the development of agriculture and fisheries in both places.

Mr Tse welcomed the delegation and said that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the local agriculture and fisheries industries and promotes their sustainable development by complementing the direction of national development. The HKSAR Government will continue to implement measures under the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries to helpfishermen/farmers switch to modernised and sustainable operation modes, attract more young people to join the industry, integrate into the development plan of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and enhance the quality, quantity, and output value of local agricultural and fisheries products in the long run.

The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, introduced to the delegation the Government's work in supporting the development of the agriculture and fisheries industries, including developing deep-sea mariculture in new fish culture zones, launching the "Fish enJoy" Scheme to promote leisure fisheries, developing urban farming, and promoting the development of a multi-storey, modernised, and environmentally friendly pig farm by the industry.

Through inspecting the landing and sale of catches at the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, the delegation understood that the FMO has been providing the fisheries industry with services such as wholesale of chilled fish and live seafood, supply of clean seawater, as well as promoting local fisheries products. All profits are then used to support the development of local fisheries, including improving market services and facilities and providing low-interest loans to fishermen. The delegation also met with local fishermen and tasted local processed speciality fisheries products.

The FMO, established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance (Cap. 291), is a financially independent non-profit organisation led by the Director of Marketing, a post concurrently held by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation. The Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market is one of the busiest fish wholesale markets under the FMO. In 2024, the market handled approximately 4970tonnes of chilled marine fish and about 3622tonnes of live seafood, accounting for around 15 per cent and nearly 50 per cent of the FMO's total wholesale volume, respectively.

SEE welcomes delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Hong Kong for exchanges on fisheries development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE welcomes delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Hong Kong for exchanges on fisheries development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE welcomes delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Hong Kong for exchanges on fisheries development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE welcomes delegation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to Hong Kong for exchanges on fisheries development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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