Hong Kong’s Immigration Department (ImmD) has intensified its enforcement against illegal employment, announcing on 16 January the arrest of eight suspected illegal workers and one employer during a week-long series of operations codenamed “Twilight” and “Champion”. Between 9 and 15 January, officers raided wet markets, hair salons and retail stores across multiple districts, targeting industries historically prone to hiring unvetted labour.(info.gov.hk)
The eight workers—two men and six women aged 32-57—were found either overstaying or working in breach of recognisance conditions that expressly prohibit employment. A 32-year-old male Hong Kong resident suspected of hiring them was taken into custody and may face prosecution under section 17I of the Immigration Ordinance, which now carries penalties of up to HK$500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment after amendments passed last year.
Companies and individual professionals navigating Hong Kong’s complex visa landscape can streamline compliance by using VisaHQ’s online platform, which centralises real-time entry rules, document checklists and application tracking for all major permit categories. Through its dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/), VisaHQ also provides corporate account management and on-call visa specialists who can pre-screen staff credentials, reducing the risk of inadvertent hiring breaches highlighted by the recent ImmD raids.
![Immigration Department arrests nine in city-wide crackdown on illegal workers and employer]()
ImmD reminded the public that employers have a legal duty to inspect identity documents and, where necessary, travel papers before offering a job. The High Court’s 2025 sentencing guideline calls for immediate custodial sentences for those who flout the rules, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance stance as it seeks to preserve the city’s reputation as a fair labour market attractive to foreign talent.
For businesses that rely on part-time or seasonal staff—especially SMEs in retail and F&B—the message is clear: tighten right-to-work checks or risk severe fines, imprisonment for company directors, and reputational damage that can jeopardise visa sponsorship standing. Mobility managers should review vendor contracts to ensure third-party labour providers conduct proper document vetting and keep auditable records.
The crackdown also illustrates the balance Hong Kong authorities are trying to strike: while aggressively courting overseas professionals through schemes such as the Top Talent Pass and visa-free short-term entry for experts, they are equally determined to deter irregular migration and unlawful employment that could undercut those programmes.
The eight workers—two men and six women aged 32-57—were found either overstaying or working in breach of recognisance conditions that expressly prohibit employment. A 32-year-old male Hong Kong resident suspected of hiring them was taken into custody and may face prosecution under section 17I of the Immigration Ordinance, which now carries penalties of up to HK$500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment after amendments passed last year.
Companies and individual professionals navigating Hong Kong’s complex visa landscape can streamline compliance by using VisaHQ’s online platform, which centralises real-time entry rules, document checklists and application tracking for all major permit categories. Through its dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/), VisaHQ also provides corporate account management and on-call visa specialists who can pre-screen staff credentials, reducing the risk of inadvertent hiring breaches highlighted by the recent ImmD raids.
ImmD reminded the public that employers have a legal duty to inspect identity documents and, where necessary, travel papers before offering a job. The High Court’s 2025 sentencing guideline calls for immediate custodial sentences for those who flout the rules, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance stance as it seeks to preserve the city’s reputation as a fair labour market attractive to foreign talent.
For businesses that rely on part-time or seasonal staff—especially SMEs in retail and F&B—the message is clear: tighten right-to-work checks or risk severe fines, imprisonment for company directors, and reputational damage that can jeopardise visa sponsorship standing. Mobility managers should review vendor contracts to ensure third-party labour providers conduct proper document vetting and keep auditable records.
The crackdown also illustrates the balance Hong Kong authorities are trying to strike: while aggressively courting overseas professionals through schemes such as the Top Talent Pass and visa-free short-term entry for experts, they are equally determined to deter irregular migration and unlawful employment that could undercut those programmes.
