Immigration Department launches operation

6/8/2025 18:21

The Immigration Department launched a four-day anti-illegal employment operation across Hong Kong last Saturday, resulting in the arrest of 24 individuals, including six company executives or contract employers involved.



The Immigration Department stated that during the operation, it discovered that some foreign domestic workers were assigned to work in unlicensed guesthouses operated by their employers. Others, despite never performing the domestic work specified in their employment contracts, colluded with their employers to forge documents to apply for domestic worker visas and then continued to work in restaurants.



The operation raided 66 locations and arrested 18 suspected illegal workers, most of whom were Indonesian and Filipino nationals. The majority were arrested in restaurants and bars. They were introduced by friends or fellow townspeople to work in non-contract locations as dishwashers, cooks, and waiters, earning wages ranging from a few tens of dollars per hour to $200 to $500 per day.



The Immigration Department stated that reports of illegal foreign domestic workers have been on the rise, emphasizing that under the Immigration Ordinance, Violations of the conditions of stay are punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and two years' imprisonment. Aiding and abetting offenders are also liable to a fine of $500,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment. Employers who employ illegal workers are also liable to a fine of up to $500,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment.