Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority mount joint anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) today (May 4) mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation to combat illegal workers providing tourist guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong. A Mainland visitor, who is a suspected illegal worker, was arrested.
As there have been suspected illegal workers utilising social media platforms to advertise tour guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong, the ImmD and the TIA initiated an operation. Officers disguised as customers enquired about and booked services from the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested while providing such services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal worker was a man, aged 27. The ImmD will consider prosecution against him for the offence of breaching conditions of stay.
The ImmD and the TIA have also deployed officers to distribute leaflets to the public and visitors at tourist hotspots, 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."
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, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) have mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation today (May 4). Photo shows officers from the ImmD and the TIA distributing leaflets to the public and visitors, conveying the message of "Don't employ illegal tour escorts or tourist guides". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Immigration Department and the Travel Industry Authority have mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation today (May 4). Photo shows a suspected illegal worker arrested during the operation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LCSD to organise Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the second edition of the Hong Kong ICH Month, continuing its theme with "ICH Around Town". From May 30 to June 30, over 50 ICH performances and 80 promotion booths, as well as 40 field visits, will be held across Hong Kong. Various activities will cover over 100 ICH items, giving the public and tourists a greater insight into Hong Kong's ICH, and enable them to experience the cultural richness of ICH and the pleasure it brings, with a view to achieving "shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism".
Great variety of activities in ICH Carnival
Among the fascinating activities to be held during Hong Kong ICH Month 2026, the inaugural event, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Hong Kong ICH Month 2026" Opening Ceremony cum ICH Carnival, will be held on May 30 and 31 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. Apart from Cantonese music, a female lion dance and a children/youth Cantonese opera show, there will be interactive booths featuring a shadow puppetry demonstration and experience, a lion dance experience, Cantonese opera costumes and flash mob performances, a Pixiu dance, and Hoi Luk Fung/Hoklo unicorn dance, for members of the public to join.
In-depth exploration in tours narrated by ICH practitioners
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours will feature nine thematic routes, bringing the public and tourists to eight Districts, namely Wan Chai (two routes), the Islands, Kowloon City, Kwai Tsing, North, Sai Kung, Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong, in which ICH practitioners will share their skills and stories. Examples include, the Arts of the Guqin (the Craft of Qin Making) in Sham Shui Po and Chiu Chow Marinated Food Making Technique in Kowloon City. The tours were highly acclaimed last year. Registration will open on May 15 and details will be announced later.
Light show weaving artefacts and ICH
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Light Show will be presented on the exterior of the Hong Kong Space Museum in mid-to-late June. Centred on the theme of the horse, the multi-dimensional presentations will showcase the rich historical and cultural significance of the horse in artefacts and artworks, and the underlying essence of ICH.
Passing on ICH at schools
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: "10 Living ICH Treasures" Mobile Classrooms will bring ICH knowledge and Chinese culture to local primary and secondary schools through mobile displays, live performance and demonstrations, and interactive workshops. Students will even have a chance to exchange ideas and learn from ICH practitioners.
Galas portraying ICH essence
Carnivals or fun days will be held in various districts across Hong Kong on several Saturdays and Sundays in June, which will be suitable for all ages. These include the "10th Anniversary Fun Day@HK ICH Centre" to be held at the Sam Tung Uk Museum on June 13 and 14. Through a variety of ICH performances and interactive, hands-on experiential booths, the event showcases the rich and diverse cultures of different ethnic groups and communities. The "ICH Cuisine" Carnival to be held at Oil Street Art Space on June 20 and 21 will feature demonstrations and workshops on ICH-related food making techniques including egg tarts ,Chinese dim sum and moon cakes. Participants may make their own ICH food items and learn about the making techniques. The "ICH Wonder Adventure: Sea, Land & Sky Carnival" will be held at TKO Plaza on June 27 and 28. There the public can take part in workshops on fishing net plaiting, salt making and movable-type printing techniques to learn about the ICH items and the geographical features of Hong Kong.
Other events include Hong Kong Cheongsam Heritage Salon to be held on June 6, which aims to promote the Hong Kong Cheongsam Making Technique, a national ICH item, through panel discussion, keynote speech, display of transmission work and exchange. The "Fly with ICH Delight: Pop-up Display to be held in June, and "Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique" live demonstrations to be held from June 1 to 8 at Hong Kong International Airport, will invite tourists to taste Hong Kong-style milk tea and at the same time know more about the connotation of Hong Kong's ICH. A strategic partner, the cultural promotion organisation ICH June will hold a seminar on June 13 where scholars and experts from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao will be invited to explore the transmission and development of ICH.
The Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 is presented by the LCSD and organised by the ICHO, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the sole sponsor of "Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series", and ICH June as a strategic partner. For details, please visit the website www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2026.html.
LCSD to organise Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LCSD to organise Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LCSD to organise Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LCSD to organise Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
