Mainland Green Tea Restaurant introduces Zhejiang fusion cuisine to Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong announced that the Mainland Green Tea Restaurant officially opened its first outlet in Causeway Bay today (September 10), and a second one is slated for opening in Tai Wai soon.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said, "Over the past few years, Hong Kong has attracted many Mainland restaurant brands. The Green Tea Restaurant adds a very significant name on the list, with their signature Zhejiang fusion cuisine setting itself apart from peers. Hong Kong's status as a renowned culinary hub offers Mainland and overseas restaurants an ideal platform to showcase their products and brands to the world. I wish the Green Tea Restaurant every success in Hong Kong and beyond."
Vice President and General Manager of the Overseas Business Division of Green Tea Group Limited, Mr Thomas Tao, said, "Our vision is to make the Green Tea Restaurant an internationally acclaimed Chinese cuisine brand. In this connection, Hong Kong offers an important strategic platform. It has a rich Chinese cuisine culture with international market connections plus a deep talent pool. As the global gateway to Mainland China, the city is also a natural springboard from which to expand our brand globally."
Mr Tao added that the Green Tea Restaurant has more than 420 directly managed stores on the Mainland and is planning to list in Hong Kong.
For more information about the Green Tea Restaurant, please visit www.facebook.com/people/%E7%B6%A0%E8%8C%B6%E9%A4%90%E5%BB%B3-Green-Tea-HK/61562499657141/.
To get a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720320207912.
Mainland Green Tea Restaurant introduces Zhejiang fusion cuisine to Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland Green Tea Restaurant introduces Zhejiang fusion cuisine to Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Illegal worker jailed
A Pakistani illegal worker, holding a recognisance form, was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 16).
During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Powerplayer" on July 16, investigators raided a hawker pitch on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok District. A Paskitani man, aged 30, was arrested while assembling the hawker pitch. Upon identity checking, he produced a recognisance form issued by the ImmD for inspection, which prohibits him from taking employment.Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After trial, he was sentenced to 22 months and two weeks' imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, 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 10 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.
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.
Source: AI-generated images
