Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority Jointly Launch Anti-Illegal Worker Operation, Arresting Two Persons

Two persons arrested during joint anti-illegal worker operation by Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation for two consecutive days,yesterday (July 27) and today (July 28) to combat illegal workers providing tourist guide and photo-taking services in Hong Kong. Two Mainland visitors, who were suspected illegal workers, were arrested.

As there have been suspected illegal workers utilising social media platforms to advertise tour guide and photo-taking services in Hong Kong, the ImmD and the TIA initiated an operation. Officers disguised as customers enquired about and booked services from the suspects. The suspects were subsequently arrested while providing such services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal workers were women, aged 22 and 31. The ImmD will consider prosecution against them 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 escort 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, emailanti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form atwww.immd.gov.hk.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) have mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation for two consecutive days, yesterday (July 27) and today (July 28). 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 for two consecutive days, yesterday (July 27) and today (July 28). Photo shows a suspected illegal worker arrested during the operation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) have mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation for two consecutive days, yesterday (July 27) and today (July 28). 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 for two consecutive days, yesterday (July 27) and today (July 28). Photo shows a suspected illegal worker arrested during the operation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Attempted murder and suicide in Wong Tai Sin

Police are investigating an attempted murder and suicide case in Wong Tai Sin this morning (August 8), in which a 46-year-old man died.

At 7.19am, Police received a report from a security guard that someone was injured inside an elevator in Chiu Sin House, Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate.

Police officers sped to the scene. A 25-year-old man was found lying inside the elevator. Sustaining multiple serious injuries, he was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in conscious state. Officers later found that a 46-year-old man was lying on the podium of Chiu Sin House, who was suspected to have fallen from height. He was certified dead at scene.

Initial investigations revealed that the 46-year-old man had allegedly assaulted the 25-year-old man with a chopper inside the elevator. The 46-year-old man then fled away and was later suspected to have fallen from the unit he lived in.

A chopper in suspected connection with the case was seized inside the unit the 46-year-old man lived in.

Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Wong Tai Sin District is underway. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 6157.

Source: AI-found images