33 arrested in anti-vice, illegal worker raids in Yau Tsim

Police and immigration officers arrested 33 people during a joint operation targeting vice activities and illegal employment in Yau Tsim district on Monday.

Codenamed CHAMPION, the raids involved officers from the Yau Tsim police district and the Immigration Department searching multiple locations.

Those arrested included 25 mainland Chinese women, a mainland Chinese man, six foreign women, and a local woman, aged between 18 and 65. They were detained on suspicion of offences including "overstaying," "breach of conditions of stay," "aiding and abetting breach of conditions of stay," "illegal employment," and "possession of another's identity document."

All detainees are being held for investigation, with some to be handed over to relevant departments.

Police reminded the public that under the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants, overstayers, or persons subject to removal orders cannot take up employment, paid or unpaid, or run any business. Offenders face a maximum penalty of a HK$50,000 fine and three years' imprisonment. Employers hiring such persons risk a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment. Violating conditions of stay carries a maximum penalty of a HK$50,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.