Four arrested due to advertising illegal cleaning services on Xiaohongshu

Hong Kong's Immigration Department (ImmD) has arrested four people who allegedly advertised illegal cleaning services on Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu.

According to its official statement, the Immigration Department mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Netstrike" on 3 June by deploying officers-in-disguise to contact a mainland cleaning service company, which arranged for illegal workers to work in Hong Kong.

The authorities found that social media platforms have been utilised by mainland companies to advertise cleaning services in Hong Kong. After in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, the Special Investigation Section of the ImmD identified a mainland company arranging for illegal workers to perform domestic and office cleaning work in Hong Kong.

During the operation, officers disguised themselves as customers to enquire about the cleaning services with the mainland company. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cleaning company advertised on social media to provide affordable cleaning services in Hong Kong.

It also arranged for illegal workers to come to Hong Kong to provide cleaning services, who charged RMB$3 to RMB$5 per foot. During the operation, investigators seized cleaning tools and smartphones used to operate social media accounts.

The person-in-charge of the mainland cleaning company aged 28 and three mainland illegal workers aged from 19 to 30 were arrested while they were performing cleaning work in Hong Kong.   

"The ImmD will continue to strengthen enforcement actions against illegal employment and seek various means to publicise the serious consequences of employing illegal workers in order to raise public awareness of the issue. The ImmD will conduct target-oriented cyber patrols and take prompt enforcement actions if any person is found organising, arranging or instigating others to commit serious crimes such as employing illegal workers," an ImmD spokesman said.

The spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the director of immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

"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 overstayer or 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 HK$50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment," the spokesman added.

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