Author Archives: hksar gov

     To assist Secondary Six graduates to prepare for the release of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results on July 22, the Education Bureau (EDB) has produced the “Three useful tools for the release of the HKDSE Examination results”, namely e-Navigator, Further Studies and Career Map, and Compass@HKDSE. These tools, uploaded to the EDB website today (June 5), allow graduates, parents and schools to obtain useful information in a timely manner.
      
     Graduates, parents and schools can use the e-Navigator to search for programme information across different levels, including degrees, sub-degrees and the Diploma Yi Jin. The Further Studies and Career Map provides a checklist of multiple pathways and key dates for course registration which reminds graduates to take necessary actions accordingly. The Compass@HKDSE provides graduates with essential information to make better preparation for the release of the HKDSE Examination results. It includes information on further studies, multiple pathways and various supporting services.
      
     A spokesman for the EDB said, “The broad and balanced senior secondary curriculum provides diversified choices to cater for students’ different interests, abilities and needs. It promotes whole-person development, stretches students’ potential fully and equips them with lifelong learning capabilities by the time of graduation. We hope that all graduates will make good use of the ‘Three useful tools’, together with the flexible and diversified study and career pathways with multiple entry and exit points under the New Academic Structure, to choose their right directions according to their interests, needs and aptitudes, so as to develop their full potential and realise their aspirations.”
      
     The EDB will continue to maintain close communication and collaboration with schools and other stakeholders to help students plan for their future. For the date of release of the HKDSE Examination results, schools are advised to refer to the latest announcements on the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority website (www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/).
      
     The “Three useful tools” are available on the 2020 HKDSE Examination Results Release Designated Webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/s6/en), which also provides other latest information about multiple pathways.  read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sai Kung this morning (June 5) in which a 76-year-old man died.      At about 6.20am, a private car driven by a 26-year-old man was travellin… read more

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight” and “Contribute” from June 1 to yesterday (June 4). A total of 18 suspected illegal workers and 11 suspected employers were arrested.
 
     During the operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 37 target locations including a commercial building, farms, a food factory, a garbage collection depot, hotels, massage parlours, premises under renovation, restaurants, a salon, a shopping mall, warehouses and a wet market. The suspected illegal workers comprised seven men and 11 women, aged 24 to 66. Among them, four men and a woman were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, two men and three women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Meanwhile, six men and five women, aged 25 to 67, were suspected of employing the suspected illegal workers.
 
     “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, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases. 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.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. 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. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
 
     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 threats 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.  read more

     Three illegal workers comprising two Indians and one Bangladeshi were jailed by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (June 4).

      During operation “Twilight” conducted on June 2, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators raided a wet market in Lam Tin and a restaurant in Central. Two male Indian illegal workers and one female Bangladeshi illegal worker, aged from 35 to 50, were arrested while working as garbage cleaning workers and a dish washing worker. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants. An employer suspected of employing the illegal workers was also arrested and investigation is ongoing.

     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were each sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
 
     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment should be applied in such cases.

     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. 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. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on 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 threats 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. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The first meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Subcommittee on Building (Minor Works) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and Building (Planning) (… read more