Hong Kong immigration authorities arrest 19 in crackdown on illegal workers

Hong Kong immigration officers have arrested 19 people in a citywide crackdown on illegal workers, with five suspects providing food delivery services unlawfully.

The suspects were apprehended during an eight-day operation that began last Thursday and involved raids on 133 locations, including restaurants and logistics warehouses, Li Kwing-chiu, deputy commander of the Immigration Department, said on Friday.

Among those arrested were 13 illegal workers, three employers suspected of hiring illegal workers, and three individuals suspected of assisting and abetting them.

Five of the 13 illegal workers were from India and Bangladesh and were found to be working as food delivery cyclists, with accounts provided by the three individuals. The latter were arrested for suspected abetment and fraud.

However, there was no evidence that their activities were part of an organised crime operation, Li added.

The remaining eight illegal workers were engaged in cleaning, dishwashing, kitchen work and logistics jobs. Among them, two were foreign domestic workers and six were tourists holding Hong Kong and Macau travel permits.

Three employers suspected of hiring them were also arrested.