83 mainlanders arrested in raids on shantytowns

Eighty-three mainlanders were found living in makeshift huts and abandoned structures including pig pens and chicken shelters in Yuen Long yesterday.

They were charged $20 a night for a space including a wooden board laid on the ground for a bed, covered with a sheet, said acting Chief Immigration Officer Chan Yiu-chung.

Two of the makeshift huts were built next to a sewage channel, Mr Chan said.

The huts formed three shantytowns - each of about 10 structures - two at Yeung Uk village in Au Tau and one at Wong Nai Tun village in Tai Tong.

Each day before dawn, the residents took a 15-minute walk to Kuk Ting, Sai Tai or Tai Fung streets in Yuen Long to look for work.

Employers paying between $150 and $250 a day would arrive in cabs and goods vans to pick up illegal workers and take them to construction sites in Yuen Long, San Tin and Sheung Shui.