Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment Convenes Second Meeting

Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment convenes second meeting

The Secretary for Security,Mr Tang Ping-keung, chaired the second meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (March 23). At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the latest situation of illegal employment, including crime trends relating to illegal employment in individual key industries. The Task Force also reviewed the implementation of various measures to combat illegal employment.

The Convenor of the Task Force, Mr Tang, said, "Since the establishment of the Task Force in September last year, the Government has been stepping up efforts to combat illegal employment. During the five-month period from October 2025 to February 2026, over 10 000 operations against illegal workers were conducted, with the monthly average increasing by nearly 30 per cent as compared with that of the first three quarters in 2025. During the operations, around 520 illegal workers and around 200 employers or aiders and abettors were arrested, yielding notable results. At the same time, law enforcement agencies have strengthened publicity for anti-illegal worker enforcement actions to achieve a deterrent effect."

"On intelligence collection, the Immigration Department (ImmD) launched a Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers (Reporting Hotline) in September 2025 and provided new reporting means through WeChat and the 'iAM Smart' mobile application. To further facilitate the public in making reports, the ImmD has simplified the Reporting Hotline today by replacing the original number 3861 5000 with 185 185, which is easier to remember, with a view to encouraging members of the public to combat illegal employment together," Mr Tang added.

The Task Force will continue to closely monitor crime trends in illegal employment, formulate and adjust response strategies in a timely manner, and combat illegal employment in multiple key industries in a targeted manner, to safeguard employment opportunities for the local workforce.

Established by the Security Bureau in September 2025, the Task Force aims to enhance interdepartmental co-ordination to combat illegal employment under a multipronged approach. Members of the Task Force include the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Labour Department and the Transport Department.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (centre), chaired the second meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (March 23) to follow up on the latest situation of illegal employment and review the implementation of various measures to combat illegal employment. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

​The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (third left), chaired the second meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (March 23) to follow up on the latest situation of illegal employment and review the implementation of various measures to combat illegal employment. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD combats unlicensed hawkers selling cooked food

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (March 23) that the department has carried out a series of blitz operations across the territory over the past weekend, targeting unlicensed hawkers selling cooked food, with particular focus on crowded areas such as locations where foreign domestic helpers gather. During the operations, FEHD officers arrested four foreign nationals in Central/Western District, Wan Chai District, and Mong Kok District for suspected illegal hawking and causing obstruction in public places. A total of seven prosecutions were initiated. As it is suspected that the individuals involved have also contravened the Immigration Ordinance, the cases have been referred to the Immigration Department for follow-up.

The spokesman said that about 150 kilograms of food items, including desserts, grilled fish, fried snacks, lunch boxes, sauces and instant beverages, were seized during the operations. To safeguard food safety and maintain environmental hygiene, the FEHD will continue to adopt an intelligence-led approach, deploying flexible enforcement strategies, stepping up inspections at high-risk locations, and conducting blitz operations. FEHD officers also distributed leaflets to foreign domestic helpers, reminding them not to engage in unlicensed hawking and explaining the relevant laws and consequences of violations.

The FEHD has long adopted a balanced approach in handling the issue of unlicensed hawkers. However, if the sale of cooked food, food from unknown sources, expired items, or food that is prohibited or restricted for sale is involved, the department will take stringent enforcement actions, including immediate arrests without prior warning, to safeguard food safety and public health. In the first two months of this year, the FEHD initiated 28 prosecutions against such violations and seized over 240 kg of food items in question.

According to the relevant ordinances, unlicensed hawking is subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 and six months' imprisonment. If unlicensed hawking activities also cause obstruction of passageways, offenders may be fined $25,000 or imprisoned for three months. In addition, any person who sells restricted food (including frozen meat, sashimi and sushi) without permission or sells expired food commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

The FEHD urges members of the public not to patronise food from unknown sources or illegal street hawkers. The public may report hawkers selling suspicious food to the FEHD. Immediate follow-up actions will be taken.

The FEHD reaffirmed its commitment to relentlessly curbing unlicensed hawking activities, particularly when it involves food sales, and called on the public to work together to safeguard food safety and environmental hygiene.

FEHD combats unlicensed hawkers selling cooked food Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD combats unlicensed hawkers selling cooked food Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases