Two persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation (with photo)

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) is highly concerned about the resale of concert tickets in the vicinity of the Hong Kong Coliseum for profit by suspected illegal workers who have purchased the concert tickets locally. To combat these activities, ImmD Task Force officers conducted an anti-illegal worker operation outside the Hong Kong Coliseum yesterday (October 9). In the operation, a male suspected illegal worker and a female suspected illegal worker, aged 40 and 62, were arrested on suspicion of breaching their conditions of stay. Among them, the woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person.

     "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.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screenings 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 intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.