19 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Lightshadow", joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand", a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed "Rainbow" and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Powerplayer" from January 16 to yesterday (January 22). A total of 13 suspected illegal workers, four suspected employers and two suspected aiders and abettors were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, flats under renovation and grocery stores etc. Thirteen suspected illegal workers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised two men and 11 women, aged 24 to 62. Among them, two women were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment. Two men and two women, aged 36 to 62, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. Furthermore, the two suspected aiders and abettors arrested were a man aged 35 and a woman aged 50. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
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 warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, 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 is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."
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 the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
19 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the Opening Ceremony of the Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network today (March 13). He announced that the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) had achieved the target of having over 200 000 participants earlier than expected and would be regularised. Meanwhile, the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) launched the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network (Co-care Network) today.
Professor Lo said, "The CDCC Pilot Scheme has received an enthusiastic response since its launch at the end of 2023. By the end of January this year, the number of participants has exceeded 200 000, nearly 10 months ahead of the original target date. Among the participants who have completed the screenings, about 40 per cent were diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), or hyperlipidaemia and have entered the treatment phase, receiving government-subsidised cross-disciplinary follow-up for early management of chronic diseases. According to preliminary analysis conducted by a local university research team, the CDCC Pilot Scheme has performed well in terms of health benefits and cost-effectiveness, with participants showing overall improvements in their health conditions. The data shows that after joining the scheme for 12 months, the average glycated haemoglobin level of DM patients dropped from 7.8 per cent to 6.7 per cent; while the average systolic blood pressure of HT patients decreased from 150 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) to 135mmHg, reflecting the positive impact of sustained health management and professional support on disease control. Based on a modelled scenario of 200 000 participants, it was expected that the scheme could prevent approximately 9 000 cases of cardiovascular disease and 11 000 deaths, gaining approximately 54 000 quality-adjusted life years and saving $2.7 billion in health expenditure.
"To address the challenges posed by an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Health Bureau (HHB) announced today that the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be regularised and be renamed the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme (CDCC Scheme). The Co-care Network, launched simultaneously today, will introduce evidence-based, life-course-oriented preventive measures, as well as a framework for regular screening and management of high-risk diseases. The services under the Co-care Network will be determined by citizens' individual health conditions and risks, thereby implementing the 'peopleoriented' primary healthcare principle and bringing about a paradigm shift."
Established under the institutional framework of the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, the Cocare Network integrates and enhances primary healthcare services provided by the Government through expanding the scope of diseases covered, strengthening cross-disciplinary collaboration, and improving community healthcare support and auxiliary services. Apart from including screening and treatment of the "three highs" under the current CDCC Scheme, and hepatitis B screening and treatment services, the Co-care Network will gradually expand to cover more chronic diseases, allowing people of different ages and risk groups to receive full-cycle health management in the community. The Co-care Network will also strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration and enhance relevant assistance and support to further optimise its services.
The first phase of development of the Co-care Network will span five years with a target participation of around 700 000 persons. Eligible citizens who register as members of the District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) and agree to join eHealth can join services under the Co-care Network according to their health conditions and risks. Moreover, the HHB will continue to invite suitable patients currently attending the Family Medicine Clinics of the Hospital Authority (HA), and also participants in the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme that is scheduled to conclude in 2028, to join the services under the Co-care Network in a gradual manner.
As the entry points of the Co-care Network's services, the DHCs provide citizens with a series of standardised and personalised healthcare services, making their role as a hub of vital importance. At present, DHCs across all 18 districts in Hong Kong have over 100 service points. As of the end of January this year, the cumulative number of DHC members has reached more than 520 000, representing an increase of about 45 per cent over one year compared with the same period in 2025.
The Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre (YTM DHC), operated by the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, commenced services in late October last year and is supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists and social workers. Its core centre located at 1047 Canton Road, Mong Kok (the former Mong Kok Market building) was renovated by the Urban Renewal Authority. It features an audiometric cum vision assessment room and a smart rehabilitation zone, providing members with services such as health risk assessments and chronic disease management through application of technology. The three satellite centres located in Prince Edward, Yau Ma Tei and Jordan have also commenced services. For details about the YTM DHC, please visit the relevant webpage (www.dhc.gov.hk/en/dhc_yau_tsim_mong.html).
The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee; the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau; and the Deputy Director of Health, Dr Edmund Fong, also attended today's event.
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Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health officiates at Opening Ceremony of Yau Tsim Mong District Health Centre cum Launch Ceremony of Primary Healthcare Co-care Network Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
