Immigration Department Arrests 17 in Anti-Illegal Worker Operations Across Hong Kong

Immigration Department arrests 17 persons during operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached conditions of stay

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Swordfish" for three consecutive days from May 17 to 19, targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached their conditions of stay. A total of 17 persons, including nine suspected illegal workers and eight suspected employers, were arrested.

During the operations, ImmD investigators raided 21 target locations, including restaurants, retail shops, hair salons, barbecue sites, and industrial and commercial buildings. The arrested nine suspected illegal workers comprised one man and eight women, aged 29 to 50. Among them, two persons were current helpers, three persons were overstaying ex-helpers, three persons were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment in Hong Kong, and one person was an imported worker. The suspected illegal workers were found engaging in food and beverage services, grocery shop operations, cleaning duties and hairdressing services. Meanwhile, eight suspected employers, comprising two men and six women aged 26 to 76, were owners or persons-in-charge of the companies and restaurants involved, or the contractual employers of the arrested foreign domestic helpers. The relevant cases are still under investigation, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

In addition, to enhance public education, ImmD has released a new publicity video reminding employers not to employ foreign domestic helpers or arrange for them to engage in illegal work. The relevant video will be released on the official social media platforms of the ImmD.

"A helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer as listed in the 'Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties' attached to the Contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person," an ImmD spokesman said.

The spokesman also said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/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 that, "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 reiterated 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 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, 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.

Immigration Department arrests 17 persons during operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached conditions of stay Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Immigration Department arrests 17 persons during operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached conditions of stay Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Immigration Department arrests 17 persons during operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached conditions of stay Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Immigration Department arrests 17 persons during operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached conditions of stay Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 19) released the third batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 19 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

May 2026

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Southern

Pok Fu Lam

13.8%

1.1

Kowloon City

Ho Man Tin

25.0%

1.2

Kwun Tong

Yau Tong and Cha Kwo Ling

28.8%

1.8

Wong Tai Sin

Wong Tai Sin West

24.5%

1.6

Sha Tin

Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan

18.2%

1.4

Tai Wai

46.0%

1.7

Tsuen Wan

Ma Wan and Sham Tseng

31.5%

1.8

District

Survey Area

May 2026

Area Gravidtrap Index

Area Density Index

Wan Chai

Tin Hau and Causeway Bay

8.8%

1.3

Wan Chai

5.5%

1.3

Islands

Cheung Chau

12.0%

1.5

Kowloon City

Kowloon City

10.3%

1.0

Kwun Tong

Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping

27.7%

1.7

Mong Kok

Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui

0.9%

1.0

Wong Tai Sin

Wong Tai Sin East

16.7%

1.3

Yau Tsim

Tsim Sha Tsui East and King's Park

9.1%

1.4

North

Fanling South

14.9%

1.4

Kwai Tsing

Tsing Yi South

15.0%

1.1

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun North

9.4%

1.1

Yuen Long

Tin Shui Wai

13.0%

1.0

The third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May includes First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering seven survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 12 survey areas. Among which, 14 survey areas recorded gravidtrap indexes above 10 per cent, while Ho Man Tin in Kowloon City District; Yau Tong and Cha Kwo Ling, and Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping in Kwun Tong District; Wong Tai Sin West in Wong Tai Sin District; Tai Wai in Sha Tin District; as well as Ma Wan and Sham Tseng in Tsuen Wan District, recorded gravidtrap indexes above 20 per cent.

With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. With the increase in rainfall in the first half of May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further.

For survey areas which recorded indexes exceeding 10 per cent, in accordance with the mechanism implemented by the FEHD in response to the chikungunya fever (CF) situation (i.e. strengthening mosquito control work in areas with a gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, instead of 20 per cent or above under the original mechanism), the FEHD is collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to identify locations with high mosquito infestations and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. Moreover, the FEHD has initiated three prosecutions against the relevant construction site contractor, estate management company and property management company following the discovery of mosquito breeding at a construction site, a public housing estate and a private housing estate in Sha Tin District and Tsuen Wan District. Furthermore, following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at a total of four parks, a construction site, four public housing estates, four private housing estates, a school and two private premises in Kowloon City District, Kwun Tong District, Wong Tin Sin District, Sha Tin District, Tsuen Wan District and Yuen Long District, the FEHD has issued 16 statutory notices to the relevant venue management companies, a construction site contractor, estate management companies, property management companies and responsible persons of private premises, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. The FEHD also issued a warning letter to a school in Wong Tai Sin District following the discovery of potential mosquito problems. The FEHD, the relevant departments and stakeholders are following up on the mosquito control work, and will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures. In addition, the FEHD will strengthen the monitoring of the gravidtrap index in the areas to review the effectiveness of the mosquito control work.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside thepremises;

remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;

check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;

change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;

properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;

properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and

scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of CF transmission.

Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases