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29 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo) 
      An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her 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.” 
 
      The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
 
      The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the 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. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an 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) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:25

Tenders invited for site formation and engineering infrastructure works for establishment of Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park Phase 1 Stage 1A     
     The works mainly include:
 
• site formation (including site clearance and ground investigation works) and pond reprofiling works;
• construction of internal access roads;
• construction of approximately 30 hectares of gei wai, ecologically enhanced fishponds and an associated management system;
• creation of an enhanced freshwater wetland habitat at an existing water channel;
• construction of underground utilities with associated structures and utilities system; and
• implementation of environmental mitigation measures and environmental monitoring works for the works mentioned above.

     The works are scheduled to commence in December 2026 and will take about 30 months to complete.
     
     The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.Issued at HKT 12:30

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Government announces appointments to Energy Advisory Committee 
     The Energy Advisory Committee advises the Government on energy policy, including policy matters concerning energy supply and demand, energy conservation and efficiency, and other related matters.*Mr Raymond Chan Chuen-wai
*Professor Anthony Cheung Chun-yue
Ms Suki Cheung Shuk-ming 
Ms Linda Choy Siu-min 
*Ms Carmen Chu 
*Mr Fong Chung-lun
*Dr Jeffrey Hung Oi-shing
*Dr Cathy Jim Ka-wai
*Mr Alex Kwan King-fai 
*Ms Grace Kwok May-han
Ms Shirley Kwok Ho-yee 
Ms Anna Mae Koo Mei-jong
*Professor Sunnie Lau Sing-yeung 
Mr Li Kai-chi
Mr Arthur Mui
*Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee
Mr Tang Ka-wing 
*Professor Charles Wong Man-sing 
*Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) or his/her representative
*Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services or his/her representativeIssued at HKT 12:00

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Two employers sanctioned for violating requirements under Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme 
(1) Small Girl Money Exchange Limited, while applying for the importation of tellers, provided false applicant information; and
(2) Tai Lee Frozen Meat Company Limited, while applying for the importation of food processing workers, failed to notify the LD of the change in the applied posts before the commencement of the local recruitment exercise and provided false local recruitment results. Issued at HKT 12:00

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Reappointment of Chairman to Consumer Council announced 
     “Mr Chan has taken up the chairmanship of the Council since July 2022. During this period, he has been actively leading the Council to take forward various initiatives in safeguarding consumers’ rights and interests, while putting forward many valuable suggestions. We are confident that the Council will further strengthen its work on consumer protection under his leadership,” a government spokesman said.
Issued at HKT 11:00

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