The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight" from February 18 to 21. A total of 10 illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.
      
     During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 38 target locations including a bar, commercial buildings, companies, an elderly home, an industrial building, massage parlours, residential buildings, restaurants, shops and vegetable stalls. Ten illegal workers and four employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised seven men and three women, aged 25 to 57. Among them, two men were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Meanwhile, two men and two women, aged 37 to 75, were suspected of employing the 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.
      
     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 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 threat 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 interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 22) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Transport Department (TD) published in the Gazette today (February 22) the revised Code of Practice for the Loading of Vehicles. The purpose of the code is to ensure that owners, operators and drivers of goods vehicles are aware of their obligations with regard to the safe transportation of goods in accordance with the law, and also to provide guidance as to the most appropriate means of achieving this.
 
     The major revisions to the code include:
 
(1) Adding the requirement on installation of a reversing video device in goods vehicles;
(2) Adding the guidance on principles of load safety and transportation of high loads;
(3) Supplementing the guidance on selection of load carrying vehicles and arrangement of loads;
(4) Adding guidance on the use of anchorage points and headboards;
(5) Adding guidance on the use of load securing equipment and requirements for securing loads; and
(6) Supplementing the guidance on transporting different types of freight.
 
     A spokesman for the TD reminded operators of goods vehicles to read the code in detail so as to better know the requirements on the transportation of goods as stipulated in the existing legislation, and to follow the guidance provided. This will ensure the safety of road users and the public at large.
 
     Members of the public may download the revised code, which is available in Chinese and English free of charge from the TD website (www.td.gov.hk), or obtain the printed version for free at the Licensing Offices of the TD and District Offices.

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (February 22) invited tenders for the Elevated Pedestrian Corridor in Yuen Long Town connecting with Long Ping Station (Contract No. HY/2018/03).

     The works are scheduled to commence in July 2019 and will take about 50 months to complete. The works mainly include:

* construction of a covered elevated pedestrian corridor of about 540 metres long and 6m clear width along the Yuen Long Town Nullah from Long Ping Station to the south of Kau Yuk Road;
* construction of six pedestrian connectivity platforms adjacent to Yuen Long On Ning Road, Castle Peak Road – Yuen Long and Kau Yuk Road with staircases, lifts and escalators to connect the covered elevated pedestrian corridor with the existing at-grade footpaths; and
* associated road, drainage, utilities, public lighting, landscaping, and electrical and mechanical works.

     The HyD has appointed Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the construction works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Limited at Level 5, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.

     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. Submission of tenders will close at noon on April 26, 2019 (Friday). Tender submissions should be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box located at the lobby of the Public Entrance on G/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar.

     For enquiries, please call the consultant at 2268 3595.

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (February 22) invited tenders for "Lift and Pedestrian Walkway System between Castle Peak Road and Kung Yip Street, Kwai Chung" (Contract No. HY/2019/02).
 
     The works are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2019 and will take about 42 months to complete. The works will mainly include:
 
(a) construction of a lift tower of approximately 40 metres in height with two lifts at Kung Yip Street;
 
(b) construction of a lift tower of approximately 12m in height with one lift adjacent to the western footpath of Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung;
 
(c) construction of a lift tower of approximately 40m in height with two lifts adjacent to the eastern footpath of Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung;
 
(d) construction of a covered elevated pedestrian walkway of approximately 3m in clear width and 75m in length to connect the lift towers mentioned in items (a), (b) and (c);
 
(e) construction of a covered elevated pedestrian walkway of approximately 3m in clear width and 50m in length to connect the lift tower mentioned in item (c) and Shek Lei (I) Estate;
 
(f) construction of two staircases to connect the elevated pedestrian walkway mentioned in item (d) and Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung; and
 
(g) ancillary works including associated geotechnical, road, drainage, utilities, landscaping, public lighting, and electrical and mechanical works.
 
     The HyD has appointed WSP (Asia) Limited as the consultant to design and supervise the construction works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from the office of WSP (Asia) Limited at 7/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
 
     The invitation to tender was gazetted today. Submission of tenders will close at noon on April 12, 2019 (Friday). Tender submissions should be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box situated at the lobby of the Public Entrance on the Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.
 
     For enquiries, please call the consultant at 2579 8899.