35 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Lightshadow", "Twilight", "Contribute", "Silverwing", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", a joint operation with the Labour Department (LD) codenamed "Rainbow", a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) codenamed "Windsand" and a joint operation with the HKPF and the LD codenamed "Champion", etc, from September 11 to yesterday (September 17). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, retail stores and flats under renovation, etc. Twenty-two suspected illegal workers, six suspected employers, one suspected aider and abettor and six overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 11 men and 11 women, aged 26 to 55. Among them, two men and one woman were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment, and the woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Three men and three women, aged 30 to 57, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. The suspected aider and abettor arrested was a woman aged 44. Furthermore, the arrested overstayers were two men and four women, aged 33 to 52. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
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 warned, "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. 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, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
CHP investigates two confirmed Mpox cases and recommends high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccination
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (September 18) that it is investigating two confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) cases. Due to the recent increase in Mpox cases, the CHP strongly urged individuals who have engaged in high-risk sexual contact, particularly with strangers, to remain vigilant and take appropriate personal protective measures, including receiving the Mpox vaccination, and avoid close physical contact with anyone suspected of having contracted Mpox. Moreover, unsafe sexual contact can increase the risk of infection. The CHP has stepped up public education and outreach efforts, including setting up an Mpox hotline (2125 2373) to provide health assessments and advice to people concerned, strengthening Mpox prevention and control campaigns on social media platforms, and sending a letter to doctors across Hong Kong reminding them to immediately notify the CHP of suspected Mpox cases for follow-up.
Case details
--------------
The first new case involves a 28-year-old man who developed rashes over his body starting on September 9, including genital organs, forearm, abdomen and face. He sought medical attention at a social hygiene service clinic (SocHS) under the DH on September 15 and was arranged to receive isolation treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The other new case involves a 26-year-old man who developed a fever, sore throat, myalgia, fatigue and lymphadenopathy on August 30. Subsequently, a rash appeared in various parts of his body, including his genital organs, chest and limbs. As his symptoms persisted, he respectively sought medical attention on September 8 and 15. The CHP subsequently arranged him to receive isolation treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, the two individuals' clinical specimens tested positive for the monkeypox virus, and are in stable condition.
According to information provided by the two patients, both have had high-risk contact with other men respectively in Hong Kong during the incubation period.
No epidemiological linkages between these two cases, nor with other confirmed Mpox cases recorded earlier in Hong Kong, have been identified so far. The CHP is conducting epidemiological investigations of the two cases, and will endeavour to contact individuals who had high-risk contact with them. The CHP will also report these two cases to the World Health Organization.
Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 109 Mpox cases (87 local cases and 22 imported cases), including the above-mentioned cases. All patients were males. Since this August, the number of Mpox cases in Hong Kong has seen an increase. As of today, 25 cases have been recorded this year, including 20 local cases and five imported cases. Among them, 16 are new cases reported since August. Epidemiological investigations showed that among the 16 recently identified cases, all patients reported having sexual activities with men. No epidemiological links were found between the cases. All patients reported engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours during the incubation period, including having sex with male strangers or having sex without a condom. In 10 of these cases, patients reported using dating apps to find sexual partners.
Stepping up public education
-------------------------------------
Epidemiological analysis shows that high-risk sexual contact between males (including having sex with unknown men or multiple partners without using condoms) is a risk factor for Mpox infection. The CHP urges people who have engaged in high-risk sexual contact to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms associated with Mpox, such as a rash, fever or swollen lymph nodes. The CHP has set up an Mpox hotline (2125 2373) to provide health assessments and advice to people concerned, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm.
The CHP also stepped up its Mpox prevention and control outreach on social media platforms (including dating apps), and will further coordinate and communicate with relevant non-governmental organisations to strengthen health promotion efforts for Mpox prevention among target groups.
Getting vaccinated to prevent Mpox
--------------------------------------------
The Mpox vaccine can prevent infection and severe disease. The DH provides Mpox vaccination services for high-risk groups. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
- individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
- healthcare workers responsible for caring for patients with confirmed Mpox;
- laboratory personnel handling zoonotic pox viruses; and
- animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.
High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's SocHS (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre, without prior appointments.
Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. The CHP reminds the public, especially those at higher risks of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches. They should not engage in activities with others that may involve contact with skin rash or body fluids.
For more details, please visit the CHP's webpages onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.
Source: AI-found images
