Attention TV and radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced … read more
The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) stated today (January 24) that the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) invested HK$208 million in 23 deals in the past year, being the highest since its establishmen… read more
An illegal worker was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (January 23).
A 49-year-old Chinese female was arrested by the Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators in January 2025 for overstaying in Hong Kong for 14 months since arriving in the city in November 2023. During the investigation, officers noticed that the woman was in possession of a large amount of cash. ImmD investigators thus performed a comprehensive investigation against the activities of the arrested female during her stay in Hong Kong. Under caution, the arrested female admitted to have worked as a masseuse at various local massage parlors during her overstay period, receiving between $50 to $100 for each session.
The illegal worker was charged at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on January 23 with taking employment while being a person who, having been given permission to land in Hong Kong, had remained in Hong Kong in breach of her limit of stay imposed in relation to the permission. Meanwhile, she was also charged with overstaying in Hong Kong. She pleaded guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to a total of 15 months’ imprisonment. An investigation against the employer is still underway, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests and prosecutions.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is 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 spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. 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. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
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 immediately. read more
​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 24) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health yesterday (January 23) received a report of a severe paediatric case of co-infection with influenza B and group A streptococcal in a child.
“A 12-year-old girl with good past health developed a fever, runny nose, and cough since January 17 and consulted private doctors on three occasions (January 17, 20 and 22). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on January 22 for shortness of breath and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. She was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital for treatment on the following day (January 23). Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza B virus and her blood sample tested positive for group A streptococcal. The clinical diagnosis was co-infection with influenza B and group A streptococcal complicated with pneumonia, respiratory failure and septic shock. She is still hospitalised and in critical condition,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
The girl did not travel during the incubation period. There has been no recent outbreak of influenza or group A streptococcal in her school. Her household contacts had upper respiratory symptoms prior to her disease onset. She received 2024/2025 seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV).
Group A streptococcal infection is caused by bacteria, namely Streptococcus pyogenes, that can be found in the throat and on the skin. It can be transmitted by droplets and contact. The bacteria can cause mild diseases, including pharyngitis, impetigo and scarlet fever to invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) such as necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Anyone can get iGAS disease, but the elderly and young children, persons with chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes) or immunocompromised persons may be at higher risk. People with breaks in the skin or with recent viral infections (e.g. chickenpox, influenza, etc.) are also at higher risk of developing iGAS disease. On the other hand, the disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics and prompt treatment helps alleviate symptoms faster and prevent complications.
The spokesman reminded the public that Hong Kong has entered the influenza season. As the seasonal influenza activity is expected to increase further while the activity of other respiratory infectious diseases may also increase. To protect their health and that of their family members, the public should not only receive SIV, but also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, and take the following measures to prevent contacting influenza, Group A streptococcal infection and other respiratory illnesses: