The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including an operation codenamed "Twilight," and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Champion", from August 13 to 16. A total of 18 illegal workers, seven suspected employers and four overstayers were arrested.
 
     During operation "Twilight", ImmD Task Force officers raided 88 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, construction sites, residential flats, residential buildings and industrial buildings. Ten illegal workers and three employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised seven men and three women, aged 19 to 40. Among them, a man and two women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, three men, aged 28 to 50, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
 
     Furthermore, during operation "Champion", enforcement officers raided 46 target locations in Sha Tin, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Sha Tsui districts, including restaurants, massage parlours, markets and fish stalls. Eight illegal workers, four employers and four overstayers were arrested. The overstayers comprised three men and a woman, aged 27 to 32. The illegal workers comprised three men and five women, aged 40 to 57. Meanwhile, four women, aged 41 to 56, 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 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, as a standard procedure, will 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 effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, August 17, 2018 is 104.6 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Government published today (August 17) the revised Codes of Practice under the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO), namely:

(a) the Code of Practice on Procurement of Supplies, Goods and Services; and

(b) the Code of Practice on Building Management and Safety,

which will take effect on September 1.

     The revised Codes of Practice have incorporated relevant proposals which the Home Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department presented to the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs in November 2017 and are not in contravention of the existing BMO. With a view to ensuring that the Codes of Practice keep pace with societal changes, the revisions cover such areas as:

(a) the declaration of conflict of interests by agents and employees of an owners' corporation, preparation of invitation to tender, collection and opening of tenders and the timing of signing procurement contracts, etc. in the Code of Practice on Procurement of Supplies, Goods and Services; and

(b) the financial arrangement of an owners' corporation and the management and maintenance of common parts, etc. in the Code of Practice on Building Management and Safety.

     Pursuant to section 44(1) of the BMO, the Authority (i.e. the Secretary for Home Affairs) may from time to time prepare, revise and issue Codes of Practice giving guidance and direction as to:

(a) the procurement of supplies, goods and services required by an owners' corporation including such procurement by invitation to tender and the tender procedure in respect thereof; and

(b) the standards and practices of management and safety that are to be observed and followed by an owners' corporation.

     The revised Codes of Practice are available at the dedicated homepage on building management of the Home Affairs Department.

     The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (August 17) invited tenders for the Inter-reservoirs Transfer Scheme – Water Tunnel between Kowloon Byewash Reservoir and Lower Shing Mun Reservoir.
 
     The works mainly comprise:
 
* construction of a water tunnel of about 2.8 kilometres with a 3-metre diameter from the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir to the Lower Shing Mun Reservoir;
* construction of an intake structure at the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir;
* construction of an outfall structure at the Lower Shing Mun Reservoir; and
* ancillary works, including slope upgrading works, landscaping works and associated roadworks.
 
     The works are scheduled to commence in January 2019 and are expected to take about 38 months to complete.
 
     The DSD has commissioned Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors may obtain the forms of tender and further particulars from the company at 43/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, or contact the company at 2601 1000 during office hours.
 
     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. The closing time for the tender is noon on October 26.
 
     Details of the tender notice are available at the DSD's website (www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Tender_Notices/Current_Tenders/index.html).

     The Government announced today (August 17) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung as the Chairman of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Board of Advisors. Five serving members and seven new members were also re-appointed/appointed for a new term of two years with effect from September 1, 2018.

     The new members are Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, Ms Linda Choy Siu-min, Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, Ms Shirley Marie Therese Loo, Dr Tik Chi-yuen, Ms Eva Wong Ching-hung and Ms Wu Siu-ling.

     Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said, "I am grateful that Dr Chan and five serving members have agreed to continue serving on the Board. They have provided invaluable advice to the Director of Broadcasting and contributed positively towards RTHK's achievement of its public purposes and mission as set out in the Charter of RTHK."

     Mr Yau also welcomed the new members on joining the Board, adding that with their professional knowledge and rich social experience, they would contribute to the work of the Board.

     Mr Yau thanked the outgoing members, Ms Mimi Cheung Yee-may, Mr Leslie Ching Pui-wai, Mr Robert Chua Wah-peng, Ms Anna Hung Wing-chee, Mr Douglas Lam Tak-yip, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Dr Carol Ma Hok-ka and Dr Yeung Law Koon-chui, for their contributions during their tenure.

     The full membership of the Board commencing September 1, 2018, is as follows:

Non-official members
————————
Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung (Chairman)
Mr Walter Chan Kar-lok
Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung
Ms Linda Choy Siu-min
Mr Mohan Datwani
Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him
Ms Helen Kwan Po-jen
Ms Shirley Marie Therese Loo
Dr Tik Chi-yuen
Ms Eva Wong Ching-hung
Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming
Professor Wong Kam-fai
Ms Wu Siu-ling

Ex officio member
——————–
Director of Broadcasting