Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Swordfish” from August 4 to September 23, targeting foreign domestic helpers who breached their conditions of stay. A total of 20 persons, including 11 suspected illegal workers and nine suspected employers, were arrested.
During the operations, ImmD investigators raided 118 target locations, including restaurants, retail shops, food factories, hair salons, industrial and commercial buildings, and residential buildings. The arrested 11 suspected illegal workers comprised two men and nine women, aged 34 to 51, most of them were of Indonesian and Filipino nationalities. Among them, three persons were current helpers, five persons were overstaying ex-helpers and three persons were overstaying visitors. The suspected illegal workers were found performing dish washing, food processing and cleaning duties etc. Meanwhile, nine suspected arrested employers, comprising two men and seven women aged 34 to 54, were owners or persons-in-charge of the companies and restaurants involved. A copy of a forged Hong Kong identity card was also seized during the operation. The relevant cases are still under investigation, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.