Two illegal workers in Yuen Long imprisoned

Shatin Magistrates Courts

Two female asylum seekers were sent to prison yesterday (May 7) after they were caught working illegally in a restaurant in Yuen Long.

The two defendants—a Vietnamese and an Indonesian—were brought before the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts and they admitted to illegally taking up employment.

“They pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment respectively,” an Immigration Department (ImmD) statement said.

The ImmD warned that illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment,” it said.

The ImmD said it got a tip from the Hong Kong Police in March about the illegal workers in Yuen Long.

“Enforcement officers arrested one female Vietnamese worker and one female Indonesian worker, aged 49 and 32 respectively, cutting and washing vegetables at the rear lane of a restaurant in Yuen Long,” it said.

“Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants,” it added.

On Friday (May 4), the ImmD said it arrested 22 illegal workers, aged 18 to 65, were arrested after it conducted 27 raids in different locations, including a fish market, salons, restaurants, massage parlours, and residential flats.

On April 24, they arrested three Filipino women—one asylum seeker and two foreign domestic workers—who were caught working illegally in a restaurant in Central. They were later sentenced to jail terms ranging from six weeks to 14 months.