SITI attends opening ceremony of 2024 China Cybersecurity Week
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the opening ceremony of 2024 China Cybersecurity Week this morning (September 8) in the main venue in Nansha, Guangzhou, and witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cybersecurity collaboration among the Digital Policy Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government, the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province (CAGP), and the Comissão para a Cibersegurança of the Macao SAR Government.
During his opening speech, Professor Sun said that the theme of the China Cybersecurity Week, "Cybersecurity for the People, Cybersecurity relies on the People" profoundly interprets the close relationship between cybersecurity and the public. He called on all sectors of society to remain vigilant at all times, enhance public awareness of cybersecurity, and ensure the security of the networks and data against the cybersecurity hazards which are getting more severe in the face of ever-changing technology.
At the ceremony, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, the CAGP and the Comissão para a Cibersegurança of Macao SAR signed a MoU on facilitating cybersecurity exchange and collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This MoU aims to adhere to the holistic approach to national security, take effective measures to promote cybersecurity exchange and collaboration among the three regions, and provide robust cybersecurity support for building a digital GBA and the economic and social development of the regions.
Professor Sun said that the MoU will strengthen collaboration on cybersecurity among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, with enhancement on co-operation in the aspects of technological exchange, information sharing, and emergency response measures among the three regions with a view to facilitating the high quality development of the GBA.
Professor Sun said, "During the China Cybersecurity Week, numerous activities will be held in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to further deepen industry collaboration, cultivate cybersecurity talent and promote cybersecurity awareness in the GBA. The cybersecurity week provides a great opportunity for deepening collaboration among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in building a defense on cybersecurity together, thereby making greater contribution to the boosting of strength in cyberspace and the advancement of Chinese modernisation."
Professor Sun also visited the Cybersecurity Expo held at the same venue and toured the Hong Kong Pavilion to learn about the achievements of Hong Kong's cybersecurity industry in exchanges and collaboration with mainland counterparts.
Professor Sun concluded his itinerary and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon today.
SITI attends opening ceremony of 2024 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends opening ceremony of 2024 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Foreign domestic helper jailed for conspiracy to defraud and illegal work
A foreign domestic helper was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and working illegally in Hong Kong, and was sentenced to imprisonment on November 19 in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
The Immigration Department's Foreign Domestic Helpers Special Investigation Section conducted an anti-illegal worker operation on August 22 at a restaurant in Wan Chai district. During the operation, a 26-year-old Indian woman was arrested while she was working as a dishwasher. Investigators found that the illegal worker was a foreign domestic helper and her contractual employer was the owner of an outsourced cleaning company who contracted the restaurant's dishwashing work.
Under caution, the arrested foreign domestic helper admitted to have worked as a kitchen dishwasher at the restaurant since January this year for the purpose of earning a monthly salary of HK$14,000. She also admitted to have conspired with her contractual employer to apply for a foreign domestic helper visa using a false contract in order to work illegally in Hong Kong, instead of performing domestic duties.
The arrested foreign domestic helper was charged at the Shatin Magistrates' Court on November 19 with conspiracy to defraud and taking employment while being a person who remains in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration after having landed in Hong Kong unlawfully. She pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to a total of 18 months' imprisonment. Her contractual employer and the person-in-charge of the restaurant were also arrested, and the investigation is still ongoing.
An ImmD spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayeror a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment."
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayeror a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and ten years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences.The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law and employ illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
The spokesman continued that conspiracy to defraud is a serious offence. Under the Crimes Ordinance, offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct aninitial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
