The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of operations yesterday and today (April 15 and 16). A total of four Indonesian foreign domestic helpers, age from 31 to 35, were arrested for breaching of their conditions of stay by practising dentistry without registration.

     The ImmD received report(s) earlier on that some foreign domestic helpers breached their conditions of stay by providing unlicensed dental services on Sundays and holidays in guesthouse. However, the informant did not provide detailed information, such as the identities of the helpers and the operation time of the dental services. Despite so, the ImmD had triggered the investigation. After in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, ImmD investigators had identified the suspects concerned. Upon enforcement action taken yesterday and today, four suspects of foreign domestic helper were arrested at their respective contractual addresses and relevant exhibits, including some business cards and account book, were seized.
         
     According to the preliminary investigation, the four helpers rented a room in a guesthouse on their weekly rest days or holidays to provide dental services for their clansman. The four helpers have never received any formal dental trainings and are not registered dentists in Hong Kong. Available information suggested that their respective contractual employers were unaware of their unlicensed dental practice. The investigation is still underway and the ImmD will not rule out the possibility that more persons will be arrested. Apart from being suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the arrested helpers are also suspected of "being unregistered persons who practice dentistry" and their cases had also been referred to the relevant department(s) for follow-up action.
 
     "The arrested helpers have breached their conditions of stay. Apart from that, practicing dentistry without registration will also seriously threaten the health and lives of Hong Kong citizens and will very likely increase the risk of the spread of the epidemic. The situation is absolutely unacceptable. The ImmD has been working hard in combatting illegal workers, including foreign domestic helpers engaging in unlawful employment in Hong Kong. During the anti-epidemic period, ImmD will continue to actively conduct different types of anti-illegal worker operations" an ImmD spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also reiterated that the helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer specified in the contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person. Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence.  

     The spokesman urges members of the public, when reporting crimes, to provide more information to facilitate more effective deployment and action by the law enforcement agencies, and hopes that media could provide any crime-related information to law enforcement agencies if they have for effective and efficient enforcement actions. 

     Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes by 24-hour Immigration Offences Hotline 2824 1551, fax 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk or visit the ImmD website www.immd.gov.hk by complete the Online Immigration Offences Report Form.

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (April 16) that in response to the developments of COVID-19, the Governments of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong have implemented anti-epidemic measures under the co-operation mechanism on joint prevention and control of COVID-19 to ensure the stable supply of goods and essential commodities to Hong Kong and to facilitate the smooth arrangement of immigration clearance and operation of cross-boundary goods vehicles. As the Chief Executive stated on April 12, in light of the gradual stabilisation of the epidemic situation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will adjust the anti-epidemic measures with the vaccine bubble concept as the basis, including the implementation of facilitation measures for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who have received two vaccine doses for 14 days. To this end, the HKSAR Government has gained consent from the Guangdong Provincial Government to allow cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who have completed two vaccine doses for 14 days to continue to be exempted from quarantine and relax the daily nucleic acid test requirement gradually.

     As informed by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, starting from 0.00am on April 23, cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who have received two vaccine doses for 14 days, and received a message in the mini-program of WeChat on the system of the Yuekang Code (粵康碼) at the Yueshengshi (ç²µçœ�事) issued by Guangdong Province based on the information provided by the TD, are only required to possess proof of a negative result of a nucleic acid test conducted within 72 hours when entering Shenzhen and Zhuhai, and they are not required to undergo a nucleic acid test once every day. For those cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who have not been vaccinated, have not received two vaccine doses or have received two vaccine doses for less than 14 days, or have not yet received a notification message on the system of the Yuekang Code, they are still required to possess proof of a negative result of a nucleic acid test conducted within 72 hours when entering Shenzhen and Zhuhai and undergo a nucleic acid test when they first enter Shenzhen and Zhuhai daily.
      
     According to the registration records of the TD, there are currently about 11,000 cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, among which about 7,000 are active as shown in the relevant information. As of April 15, about 6,700 cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers have received the first vaccine dose and about 5,700 have received their second dose, representing over 90 per cent and 80 per cent of active cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers respectively.
      
     The TD encourages cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers to get vaccinated early, and appeals to the trade to pay attention to the latest announcements by the two Governments. Cross-boundary goods vehicles drivers who have any enquiries on the latest arrangements of cross-boundary nucleic acid testing may call the TD's hotline at 2399 6925.

     In response to the comments from overseas politicians concerning the sentences imposed by the District Court today (April 16), the Department of Justice (DoJ) made the following statement:  
 
     The case in question involves nine defendants who were jointly charged with organising and knowingly taking part in an unauthorised assembly. Two of the defendants pleaded guilty before trial while the remaining seven were convicted of all the charges by the court on April 1. The judge set out the reasons for the verdict in her judgment on the same day, which is publicly available at the Judiciary's website. In imposing the sentences today, the judge also stated the sentencing principles in court.
 
     The Government has repeatedly pointed out that where a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty after trial, it is the court's duty to impose a just and appropriate sentence, applying the relevant principles to the circumstances of the crime and those of the offender. It is crucial that where there is any dissatisfaction over the sentences imposed by the courts, any redress ought to be taken up by means of an appeal or review.

     We are appalled by open demands for the immediate release of the defendants who admitted to their wrong doing by either pleading guilty to their criminal act or were convicted after trial by the court. Such demands, absurd and menacing as they are, are in blatant violation of international laws and basic principle of non-intervention. Baseless attacks on sentences imposed by the court, which properly and aptly exercises judicial power independently as guaranteed under the Basic Law, manifest a total disrespect to the rule of law. Statements that create a real risk of prejudice to court proceedings in that the public confidence in the due administration of justice is undermined may amount to contempt of court.
 
     The DoJ also reminds members of the public that no one should comment arbitrarily on cases in respect of which legal proceedings are still ongoing as the matter is sub judice.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (April 16) appealed to members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent phone calls and emails purporting to be made by the DH. The DH recently received a number of public enquiries about receiving phone calls from +852 2961 8989, which is the same number as the DH's enquiry hotline (2961 8989). The public also expressed that they received emails from a sender who claimed to be "dh.gov.hk", a name which is similar to the DH's enquiry email (enquiries@dh.gov.hk).

     The concerned members of the public pointed out that the caller claimed to be a DH staff member and instructed the called party to go to a quarantine centre in some cases. The contents of the fraudulent emails are related to an electronic refund form. Both the calls and the emails asked the members of the public concerned for personal information.

     A spokesman for the DH clarified, "We have not made the calls nor sent the emails in question. If DH staff need to contact members of the public through the hotline or email, we will provide relevant information to verify the identity of both parties, but will not request the public to provide sensitive personal information. The DH has reported these matters to the Police."

     The spokesman reminded members of the public that the Centre for Health Protection, through its hotlines (2125 1111/2125 1122), allows members of the public to verify the identity of authorised officers if necessary. The public should stay alert and should not follow the caller's instructions if they receive suspected fraudulent calls. If they have any doubts, they should report the matter to the Police.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (April 16) that children born in 2005 to 2007 or 2012 to 2018 and holding the old form of smart identity cards should apply for new smart identity cards in the company of either one of their parents or legal guardians at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) (see Annex I) from May 3 (Monday) to September 18, 2021 (Saturday). The SIDCCs are open Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).
 
     For details of the replacement arrangements for children holding the old form of smart identity cards, please refer to Annex II. Please note that children born between 2012 and 2018 who have never held a permanent identity card in connection with their applications for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport are not required to participate in the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise.

       The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at the SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong.
 
       Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the ImmD mobile application, the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To download the mobile application or to make an appointment booking via the Internet, please scan the QR codes (see Annex III). The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the mobile application or the Internet in order to enjoy faster service. Applicants need to bring along their old form of smart identity cards when they proceed to the SIDCCs.
 
     For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a caring arrangement under which each eligible applicant for identity card replacement may bring along up to two persons with disabilities, in addition to two family members or friends aged 65 or above, to replace their identity cards together during the same visit to an SIDCC.

       For Hong Kong residents born in 1970, 1971 or 1972, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on April 30, 2021 (Friday). Those who have not yet applied for a new smart identity card should do so as early as possible. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

      For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.