Hong Kong immigration officers arrest 3 photographers over suspected illegal work
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has arrested three tourists from mainland China on suspicion of working illegally as photographers in the city.
Two women and a man, aged 25 to 30, were arrested by immigration officers on Wednesday and Thursday, over allegedly providing photography services in Hong Kong illegally.
In a press briefing held on Friday, the Immigration Department said investigators had posed as customers and enquired about photography services advertised on social media platforms. After booking the photographers and paying the deposit, the immigration personnel arrested them when they arrived in Hong Kong to provide the services.
During the operation, officers seized smartphones and photography equipment including cameras, props and memory cards. Leung Tsz-chung, deputy commander of the department’s task force, said the arrestees had charged customers between HK$1,000 and HK$1,500 per job. Although the transaction took place outside of Hong Kong, the photographers may still be seen as illegal workers if they were hired to provide services in the city, he said.
“Since there are lawbreakers who use online platforms as a medium and a tool to commit crimes, the Immigration Department has conducted targeted patrols to investigate internet crimes,” Leung said in Cantonese, adding that more arrests may be made.
The deputy commander reminded members of the public to use online services carefully to avoid breaking the law. The department would continue to gather evidence of illegal work through different channels and take decisive action if it discovered the use of social media or instant communication software for organising or instigating people to hire illegal workers, Leung said.
Under Hong Kong law, visitors are not allowed to take employment in the city, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Anyone convicted of working illegally can face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to two years behind bars.
Hiring an illegal worker is also an offence in the city. It is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of HK$500,000.
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