30th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) The Immigration Department said it conducted territory‑wide enforcement actions between 23rd October and 29th October under operation “Twilight”, alongside joint efforts with the Hong Kong Police Force under “Champion”, and with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department under “Flabbergast”. Officers inspected targeted premises including restaurants, flats under renovation and massage parlours, arresting eight women aged between 25 and 63 on suspicion of taking up illegal work, a 63‑year‑old woman on suspicion of employing them, and a 26‑year‑old man who had overstayed. Two of the arrested women were reportedly holders of recognisance forms that prohibit employment. Investigations into suspected employers are continuing and further arrests are not ruled out.
The department reiterated that breaching conditions of stay or taking up any form of employment in Hong Kong without permission from the Director of Immigration is an offence. Visitors engaging in work, whether paid or unpaid, face prosecution and upon conviction are liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for up to two years, with aiders and abettors also subject to penalties. It further warned that, under section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants, persons subject to removal or deportation orders, overstayers and those refused permission to land are prohibited from taking employment or establishing or joining a business, and may face up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 on conviction. Under section 20(1)(a), the Chief Executive may order deportation of an immigrant found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.
Emphasising that employing people who are not lawfully employable is a serious crime, the department noted that the maximum penalty for such employers has been raised to a fine of HK$500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment, up from HK$350,000 and three years, reflecting the gravity of the offence. Responsible officers of a company, including directors, managers, secretaries and partners, may bear criminal liability, and the High Court has set guidelines calling for immediate custodial sentences for employers of illegal workers.
According to sentencing requirements, employers must take all practicable steps to verify a person’s lawful employability before hiring. Beyond inspecting a Hong Kong identity card, employers have a clear duty to make enquiries and ensure the responses do not raise reasonable doubt about eligibility to work. Failure to do so will not be accepted as a defence. Where a job seeker does not hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card, it is also an offence if the employer fails to inspect a valid travel document, with a maximum penalty of HK$150,000 and one year’s imprisonment. The department urged all employers to comply fully with the law, adding that resolute enforcement will continue.
Under its established mechanism, the department conducts initial screenings of vulnerable persons arrested in operations—including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers—to identify potential trafficking in persons or forced‑labour cases. Where indicators are found, officers carry out full debriefings using a standardised checklist.