Don't Employ Illegal Workers

The law requires an employer to take all practical steps to ensure that the job seeker is lawfully employable. If the job seeker is not holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card, the law requires an employer to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document.

Moreover, an employer should take note of whether the job seeker has replaced a smart identity card.

Yes. All holders of Hong Kong permanent identity cards are lawfully employable.

No. Not all holders of non-Hong Kong permanent identity cards are lawfully employable.

A Hong Kong permanent identity card contains the following statement at the back of the card: "The holder of this card has the right of abode in Hong Kong." A non-Hong Kong permanent identity card does not contain the "right of abode in Hong Kong" statement.

Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card	Non-Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card

They have to inspect the job seekers' valid travel documents to ensure that they are free to take up any employment in Hong Kong without the Director of Immigration's prior permission and have not breached any condition of stay. To employ a person permitted to remain on visitor, student, employment condition or a person whose travel document is endorsed with a condition of stay that "Employment is not permitted", requires prior approval from the Director of Immigration.

Common examples are persons permitted to remain on employment status such as imported workers under the Importation of Labour Schemes and foreign domestic helpers.

All imported workers under the Importation of Labour Schemes and foreign domestic helpers are holding W-prefixed or WX-prefixed identity cards.

Look at the immigration stamp/landing slip in the job seeker's travel document. A bilingual immigration stamp endorsed or landing slip attached on the travel documents of foreign domestic helpers states clearly that "change of employer is not permitted". Stamps/landing slips for extension of stay granted to foreign domestic helpers are also bilingual.

No. You can't.

They should not have a Hong Kong identity card. The immigration stamp/landing slip on their travel documents has the word "Visitor".

The employer is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment.

The employer is liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and one year imprisonment.

They should make enquiries through the immigration enquiry telephone hotline 2824 1551 or faxline 2824 1166 or e-mail to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk.