The Government today (December 19) announced that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Dr Allan Zeman and Dr Jonathan Choi as Hong Kong, China (HKC) representatives, and appointed Dr Aron Hari Harilela as alternate representati… read more
A Pakistani illegal worker was jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on December 17.
During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” on December 13, enforcement officers raided a logistics company in Kwai Chung. A male Pakistani illegal worker, aged 29, was arrested. When intercepted, he was conveying goods. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on December 17 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, 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. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. 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. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on 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) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments. read more
The Labour Department (LD) has set up a dedicated hotline to provide support for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) starting from today (December 19). The hotline number is 2157 9537. &nb… read more
The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Shenzhen this afternoon (December 19) to attend a conference on inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which will be held tomorrow (December 20).
The conference, organised by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province, provides a platform for the leaders and the industry in the field of Chinese medicine and the trade in Hong Kong, Macao and other cities in the Greater Bay Area to exchange views and share experience on policies, industry development and scientific research in relation to Chinese medicine. Professor Chan will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference tomorrow, and also participate in a roundtable meeting to discuss issues about the rapid rise of the Chinese medicine industry and the trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with other leaders and guests attending the conference.
Professor Chan said, “Chinese medicine has been recognised as a crucial part of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. As a city where East meets West, Hong Kong will capitalise on all of its unique strengths to foster the development of Chinese medicine benefiting from a robust healthcare system. We aim to develop the ‘Hong Kong model’ for promoting Chinese medicine overseas. Hong Kong will also actively take part in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Chinese medicine field, further promote Chinese medicine services and realise inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in the new era.”
The delegation, comprising representatives from the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.
During Professor Chan’s absence from Hong Kong, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health. read more
The “Pets With love” Dog Adoption Carnival will be held at the Soccer Pitch of Lai Chi Kok Park Phase I from noon to 6pm this weekend (December 22 and 23). Admission is free.
The event is jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Animal Friends, Cheung Chau Animal Care, the Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog Association, the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation, Lifelong Animal Protection, the Society for Abandoned Animals and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The carnival aims to encourage people to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals, and promote responsible pet ownership. The AFCD always encourages the public to adopt animals through animal welfare organisations (AWOs). Currently, abandoned pets or unclaimed animals with a friendly temperament and good health will be sent to 18 partner AWOs for adoption. Free desexing operations will be offered for cats, dogs and rabbits when they are adopted.
An array of informative and entertaining activities will be held at the carnival, including sharing sessions by guests and representatives of AWOs, game booths, a dogs’ playground, an educational exhibition, handicraft workshops, dog adoption and dog licensing services as well as basic vet consultation services. Visitors can also meet some of the dogs that are up for adoption.
Participants are welcome to take their dogs to the event. All dogs entering the venue should be under proper control, in addition to being licensed, vaccinated against rabies and microchipped.
For details of the event, please read the attached poster or visit petswithlove.com.hk/home_eng.html.
