Author Archives: hksar gov

      The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” on December 10, 12 and 13. A total of 27 illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.
      
      During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 25 target locations including a function room, a commercial building, a massage parlour, a beauty centre, a recycling site, residential buildings and restaurants. Twenty seven illegal workers and three employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised 20 men and seven women aged 21 to 56. Among them, one man was holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. In addition, one man and three women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, two men and one woman, aged 25 to 58, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
      
       “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him 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,” an ImmD spokesman said.
 
       The 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. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
      
      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 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 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) 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.

  

     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, visited Tsuen Wan District this afternoon (December 14) to learn more about the latest developments and needs of the community. He also met with the Chairman of the Tsuen Wan… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today (December 14) announced the findings and recommendations of the Investigation Report regarding an incident related to oxygen supply during a patient transfer:

     A male patient with chronic illness was admitted to the hospital on September 27 for severe acute pneumonia and later developed respiratory failure. He was connected to a ventilator to assist his breathing. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on the following night as his condition had not improved. The healthcare staff later found that the self-inflating ventilation bag used during the transfer was not connected to an oxygen cylinder. The patient finally succumbed on September 30.

     QEH reported the incident to the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A Root Cause Analysis Panel was formed to investigate the incident. The Panel has come to the following conclusions:

1. The healthcare workers in the ward had to resuscitate another critically ill patient at the same time that evening. The nurses involved were relatively inexperienced for handling such an emergency situation.

2. As the patient had deteriorated to an extremely critical condition, the clinical team had made every endeavour to salvage the patient. The clinical team intended to transfer the patient to the Intensive Care Unit as soon as possible. Due to lack of communication among the staff in the highly stressful emergency situation, the checking of equipment and medical documentation for patient transfer were not yet complete.

3. In view of the seriousness and the rapidly deteriorating medical condition of the patient, even without the incident during the transfer, the clinical situation of the patient might not be significantly different.

     The panel made the following recommendations:

1. Enforce proper checking of all the medical equipment and documentation on the checklist for transfer and escort of critically ill patients before transfer.

2. Enhance communication and collaboration among members of the clinical team during transfer of critically ill patients to safeguard the safety of the patient.

3. Enforce the practice of optimally stabilising the patient’s condition before transfer and seeking help and support from more experienced staff for difficult situations.

     The hospital is saddened by the patient’s passing away and expresses its deepest condolences to the family. The hospital has explained the investigation report to the patient’s family and will keep close contact with them. The hospital has accepted the Panel’s findings and recommendations, and submitted the investigation report to the HA Head Office. read more

     The Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, today (December 14) attended a ceremony in support of the Safe Driving and Health Campaign organised by the Transport Department (TD) and encouraged commercial vehicle drivers to drive safely and maintain good health.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr So said that inattentive driving and speeding as well as turning and reversing at blind spots are the major causes of traffic accidents. He pointed out that there were about 10 000 deaths and casualties in traffic accidents involving commercial vehicles in the first 10 months of this year, accounting for 63 per cent of the overall deaths and casualties. The Government therefore will strive to enhance the driving attitudes and habits of commercial vehicle drivers.
 
     Regarding a serious traffic accident involving a non-franchised bus (NFB) in the past month, Dr So said that the Government and the trade are studying together on a number of measures including installation of seat belts on newly purchased NFBs, the use of technologies to enhance operational safety and formulating guidelines on working hours and rest time for NFB drivers. He also called on passengers to fasten seat belts properly if provided so as to ensure personal safety.
 
     Moreover, Dr So added that the Government is very concerned about drink driving and drug driving. He noted that although there was a downward trend of the number of arrests in relation to these two offences last year, the Government will spare no effort in carrying on its publicity work to heighten the vigilance of commercial vehicle drivers for public safety.
 
     Dr So reminded drivers to stay alert to their health conditions and take rest appropriately for the sake of attentive driving. The TD arranged free health check-ups for more than 1 900 commercial vehicle drivers last year and the free health check-up campaign this year has also started. Dr So appealed to commercial vehicle drivers to make a reservation for a check-up. They can also encourage their counterparts to join the campaign.
 
     In addition, the TD will continue to disseminate road safety messages to commercial vehicle drivers through seminars and workshops, regular meetings with the public transport sector and free publications for the trade.
 
     This is the 10th consecutive year that the TD has organised the Safe Driving and Health Campaign. Besides the four main themes, i.e. observing good driving attitudes, respecting other road users, not driving after drinking or taking drugs, and maintaining good health at all times, a new theme of “mutual respect between drivers and passengers” is added this year. With mutual respect and politeness between drivers and passengers, commercial vehicle drivers can keep in a good mood when driving, thus enhancing road safety.
 
     Other officiating guests at today’s ceremony included the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan; the Chairperson of the Road Safety Council, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, Professor Stephen Cheung; and the Chairperson of the Road Safety Campaign Committee of the Road Safety Council, Miss Ma Ka-wai.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) Committees will hold 18 open meetings, a public hearing and a closed meeting during the week from December 17 to … read more