Labour Department Revokes HelperFirst's EA Licence for Legal Violations After Appeal Dismissed

Licence of employment agency revoked

The Labour Department (LD) today (July 9) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the requirements of the Code of Practice for EAs at all times.

The LD has revoked the EA licence of HelperFirst Limited in Sai Kung. The EA's licence was revoked, as a related person of its licensee was earlier convicted of operating an EA without a valid licence. The EA's appeal against the LD's revocation of its EA licence was dismissed by the Administrative Appeals Board.

Under section 53(1)(d)(ii) of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an EA if he is satisfied that the licensee concerned or a related person of the licensee has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO.

"The EO stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.

Should there be enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about suspected violations by EAs, please contact the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD (telephone: 2115 3667; email: ea-ee@labour.gov.hk; address: Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon).

The Labour Department, Photo source: reference image

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 9) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 54-year-old local female passenger at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point on June 6 and seized 260 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from her. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $1,200, and the duty potential was about $860. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases