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Illegal immigrants can be jailed for working

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The Legislative Council has passed a law that makes it a criminal offence for illegal immigrants to work in Hong Kong.

Under the amended legislation, which will take effect on Saturday, people who enter the city without valid travel documents will be prohibited from taking employment or setting up or joining businesses. Offenders will face a maximum jail term of three years and a fine of HK$50,000.

Moving the bill yesterday, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said it would help stop snakeheads spreading rumours that illegal immigrants could work in the city after making torture claims, and help safeguard job opportunities for local residents.

The government proposed the amendment in response to a surge in the number of illegal immigrants, mostly from South Asia, since a court ruling in March.

The Court of First Instance ruled that asylum seekers were not breaking the law when taking work in Hong Kong.

Law-enforcement agencies intercepted a monthly average of 135 illegal immigrants between March and September, more than three times the average in January and February.

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