The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and a joint anti-illegal worker operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, from April 25 to yesterday (April 29). A total of 19 suspected illegal workers and five suspected employers were arrested. Two suspected aiders and abettors were also arrested.
           
     During anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 89 target locations including a commercial building, a garbage collection depot, a massage parlour, an office, a retail shop, residential buildings and restaurants. Thirteen suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and two suspected aiders and abettors were arrested. The suspected illegal workers comprised four men and nine women, aged 34 to 56. Among them, three women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, a woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Meanwhile, two men and a woman, aged 50 to 63, were suspected of employing the illegal workers. Also, a man and a woman, aged 48 and 58, suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached his condition of stay in Hong Kong, were also arrested.

     In addition, among the "Champion" operations, enforcement officers raided 128 target locations in Kowloon East, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi and Tsuen Wan District including a construction site, logistics centres, wet markets and warehouses. Three suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested. The suspected illegal workers comprised two men and a woman, aged 20 to 51. Among them, two men were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, a man was suspected of using and being in possession of a false instrument. Meanwhile, a man and a woman, aged 60 and 46, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.

     Furthermore, during a joint anti-illegal worker operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, enforcement officers raided two target locations in Sham Shui Po. Three suspected illegal workers were arrested. The suspected illegal workers comprised three women, aged 31 to 42.

     "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. Under the prevailing laws, 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. In addition, it is an offence to use or possess a false instrument, or make false representation to an Immigration Officer. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of $150,000 and up to 14 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 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) 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.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in medical wards, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) gave the following update today (April 30):
 
     In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, the hospital commenced contact tracing and confirmed three more patients (two males and one female, aged 30 to 85) of the medical wards as carriers of MDRA. All three patients are still hospitalised in PYNEH. They are currently under medical surveillance and isolation treatment with stable condition.
 
     Following the activation of the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, the visiting arrangement has been suspended. The following infection control measures have been stepped up according to the established guidelines:
 
1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the wards concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (April 30), 11 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. Including a patient (case number: 11763) discharged earlier on April 28, a total of 11 416 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 637 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 184 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 115 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 16 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which three patients are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and the remaining 110 patients are in stable condition.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.
 
     The case numbers of the discharged, critical and serious patients are as follows:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 61st issue of "HA Risk Alert" was published today (April 30) by the Hospital Authority (HA) as a risk management and communication initiative to further strengthen the reporting and monitoring of medical incidents in public hospitals.
 
     In the fourth quarter of 2020 (October to December), there were 12 Sentinel Events reported, comprising four cases of retained instrument/material after surgery/interventional procedure, two cases of inpatient suicide, one case of wrong part procedure, one case of maternal morbidity, one case of medication error and three cases in other categories. Among the 31 reported Serious Untoward Events, there were 27 related to medication error and four patient misidentifications.
 
     "Subsequent to incident review and analysis of the root causes of these incidents, important lessons for patient safety have been identified, while recommendations are made and shared in this publication to avoid similar events in future," the HA spokesperson said.
 
     The HA Head Office has released the latest "HA Risk Alert" to all staff. It can also be accessed by the public at www.ha.org.hk/riskalert. "HA Risk Alert" is published on a quarterly basis and posted on the HA website on the last working Friday in the months of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled on July 30, 2021 (Friday).

     The Government announced today (April 30) its provisional financial results for the year ended March 31, 2021.
 
     Expenditure for the year ended March 31, 2021, amounted to HK$816 billion and revenue HK$564.2 billion, resulting in a deficit of HK$232.5 billion after receipt of net proceeds of HK$19.3 billion from issuance of green bonds under the Government Green Bond Programme (Green Bond).
 
     Expenditure for the year recorded a variance of 11.6 per cent (HK$84.9 billion) higher than the original estimate, while revenue recorded a variance of 1.5 per cent (HK$8.3 billion) lower than the original estimate.
 
     The consolidated deficit for the year was HK$25.1 billion lower than the revised estimate of HK$257.6 billion. Revenue was HK$20.7 billion (3.8 per cent) higher than expected, mainly attributable to stamp duties (HK$10 billion higher) and earnings and profits tax (HK$7 billion higher). Expenditure was HK$4.4 billion (0.5 per cent) lower than forecast for the revised estimate mainly due to lower-than-expected requirements.
 
     The fiscal reserves stood at HK$927.8 billion as at March 31, 2021.
 
     A Government spokesperson said that these are provisional figures pending the final closing of the annual accounts. According to past experience, any changes to the provisional figures are unlikely significant.
 
     Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
 
TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (PROVISIONAL) (Note 1)
 

 
Government Debts as at March 31, 2021 (Note 3)
    HK$27,216 million
Debts Guaranteed by Government as at March 31, 2021 (Note 4)
    HK$82,589.5 million
 
TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES (PROVISIONAL)
 

Notes:

1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at March 31, 2021, was HK$152,848 million.

2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks.
 
3. These were the Green Bonds of US$3,500 million (equivalent to HK$27,216 million as at March 31, 2021) including US$1,000 million and US$2,500 million issued under the Government Green Bond Programme in May 2019 and February 2021 respectively, which were denominated in US dollars with maturity from May 2024 to February 2051. They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$119,157 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,776 million as at March 31, 2021) issued under the Government Bond Programme (with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund). Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$20,857 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$17,430 million will mature within the period from April 2021 to March 2022 and the rest within the period from April 2022 to March 2036.

4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012 and a commercial loan of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

5. Includes HK$219,691 million being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of "Future Fund", for long-term investments initially up to December 31, 2025. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.