22 Target locations including restaurants, retail shops raided during anti-illegal operations, 12 persons arrested

The Immigration Department mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight", "Greenlane" and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand" for three consecutive days from May 2 to May 4. Photo shows the items seized during the operations.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force raided target business locations for three consecutive days from May 2 to May 4. A total of 10 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested.

During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 22 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, a dance studio, and a vegetable stall.

Nine suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested.

The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised six men and three women, aged 26 to 57. Two men were also suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Furthermore, one man and one woman, aged 33 and 44, were suspected of employing illegal workers.

In addition, the HK Police force arrested one male Mainland visitor, aged 25,  for breaching his condition of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading at San Wan Road in Sheung Shui district. The goods were cosmetics products.
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 offense. 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 in any business. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment upon conviction.