Speech by SLW at opening ceremony of Mark Six 50th Anniversary Exhibition
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the opening ceremony of the Mark Six 50th Anniversary Exhibition this afternoon (April 30):
Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges); Adrian (Chairman of the Betting and Lotteries Commission, Mr Adrian Yip); Raymond (Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Raymond Tam), Gabriel (Executive Director, Charities and Community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung), Edward (Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To), dear legislators, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Fifty years ago, when Mark Six was conceived, I believe no one could have imagined what a huge success it has become, and also the huge impact it is making on our society. Mark Six has not just become a household name, probably the most well-known household name here in Hong Kong, it has also become part of the daily lexicon and a part of the vocabulary. Probably a lot of people have dreamed about winning Mark Six, day in and day out, and I think this is a very important part of it.
It is with great honour that I join you this afternoon for the opening of this very special exhibition, marking the 50th anniversary of Mark Six. Today is part of the celebration, not just about, as Winfried said, the lottery history, but also about making use of the proceeds from Mark Six that hold countless lives that have been touched, supported, and uplifted through the proceeds of every ticket sold. I would like to invite each of you to take a bit of your time to explore what is on display here, because behind every exhibit here lies a story of hope transformed into social good.
Every time a citizen, you and me, buys a Mark Six ticket, of course this is giving us a hope of winning, for a couple of days or hours. But perhaps less visible but equally important is what happens regardless of the outcome. Every time you buy a ticket, you make a contribution to the community, because all the funding will go towards welfare needs, helping the old, the sick, the disabled, the disadvantaged, and everyone who is in need of whatever kind of welfare services. In this sense, Mark Six is truly remarkable because this is a shared act of participation that generates collective benefit for all of us.
As Winfried has just said, over the past half century, through the Mark Six proceeds, it has generated $30 billion for our Lottery Fund to support 25 000 projects across more than 300 non-government organisations. I think even that $30 billion is understated, because it is not taking into account the time value of money. One dollar in 1976 is not equal to one dollar as of today. So if we translate everything into money of today, it would be far more than $30 billion. Thank you very much to all of us for the contributions we made to Mark Six.
Making use of today's occasion, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for your exemplary stewardship over the past 50 years. Through the close collaboration with the Government and the welfare sector, the Club has ensured that lottery proceeds are channelled responsibly and effectively to help those who are in need. I am sure this enduring partnership will continue, which is also a testament to what can be achieved when public, private, and civil society work together toward a shared mission.
As we mark this golden jubilee, we look forward to an even brighter future. The Government remains firmly committed to working alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and also our welfare partners to build on this proud legacy, to ensure that for the next 50 years, we will continue to transform hope into social good for every member of our community.
Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)
Source: AI-found images
22 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Contribute", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from April 24 to yesterday (April 29). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations, including restaurants, retail stores and flats under renovation. Eighteen suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 13 men and five women, aged 19 to 54. Among them, a woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.Two men and two women, aged 39 to 54, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
The ImmD and the Travel Industry Authority have also deployed officers to distribute leaflets to the public and visitors at tourist hotspots across the territory, conveying the message of "Don't employ illegal tour escorts or tourist guides".
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. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment."
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 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, emailanti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form atwww.immd.gov.hk.
22 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
22 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
22 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
22 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
