A licensee of an employment agency (EA) was convicted of overcharging a foreign domestic helper (FDH) and fined $6,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (August 4).
 
     In April 2019, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department (LD) received a complaint from an FDH against Manco Employment Agency, located in Mong Kok, for charging her an excessive commission. As the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the licensee of the EA concerned had overcharged the FDH, the LD decided to take out prosecution against the licensee.

     Under the Employment Ordinance, an EA licensee or his/her associate, or a person purporting to act in such capacities, is not allowed to collect from a job seeker any fees or charges other than the prescribed commission, which is an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of the first month's salary of the job seeker upon successful placement.
      
     The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for EAs at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and/or revocation of licence. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into force on February 9, 2018, raised the maximum penalty for unlicensed operation of an EA and overcharging of job-seekers' commissions to a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.

     For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation or overcharging of commissions by EAs, please call the EAA of the LD at 2115 3667 or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (August 4) reminded residents of public rental housing (PRH) estates to declare truthfully their income and assets.

     A PRH resident living at Lok Fu Estate declared on a Income and Asset Declaration Form in 2019 to own no domestic property in Hong Kong. A subsequent investigation revealed that the resident individually owned a domestic property at Baguio Villa, Pok Fu Lam, at the material time. She was therefore ineligible for living in the PRH unit and was prosecuted by the HD for neglecting to furnish information specified in the Income and Asset Declaration Form, contrary to Section 27 (a) of the Housing Ordinance. 

     The defendant was convicted by the presiding magistrate in Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts yesterday. Having considered the gravity of the offence, the defendant was sentenced to two months' imprisonment suspended for one year.

     The spokesman said that households living in PRH should complete the Income and Asset Declaration Forms accurately, which are used for laying the foundation for the assessment of rent and their eligibility for continuing residence.  Before making declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the Income and Asset Declaration Form carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1) (a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months) or be prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information as specified in a declaration form, contrary to Section 27 (a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months).

     The Labour Department (LD) today (August 4) reminded members of the public to obtain a proper licence before operating an employment agency (EA), or else they may face prosecution.
      
     The reminder was made after a woman was convicted of assisting in managing an EA without a valid licence and fined $6,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     In April 2020, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD received a complaint against a woman from an employer hiring a foreign domestic helper. As the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the woman was assisting in managing an unlicensed EA and the complainant was willing to act as a prosecution witness, the LD decided to take out prosecution.
  
     All establishments or persons operating a business in Hong Kong for the purpose of obtaining employment for another person or supplying personnel to an employer are governed by Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. Irrespective of the modus operandi or the types of jobs involved, all EAs must obtain a licence issued by the LD before undertaking any EA activities. Except for the EA licence holder or his or her associate, no one shall operate, manage or assist in the management of an EA. Offenders may face prosecution.
 
     The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for EAs at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and/or revocation of licence. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into force on February 9, 2018, raised the maximum penalty for unlicensed operation of an EA and overcharging of job seekers' commissions to a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
 
     For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation or overcharging of commissions by EAs, please call the EAA of the LD at 2115 3667 or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 is 106.2 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

 
———————————————————
     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning August 10, 2020: