https://www.scmp.com/rss/522601/feed Hong Kong’s Immigration Department is a governmental body and disciplined service, headquartered at 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories. Its primary mission is to exercise effective immigration control, facilitate genuine travellers, and safeguard national security. Key activities include managing border control, issuing identity cards and HKSAR passports, handling nationality matters, and providing civil registration services for births, deaths, and marriages. The department also... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has granted further leniency to a senior Immigration Department assistant, placing him on a one-year probation order after he was convicted of repeatedly choking his wife and young son during domestic disputes. Kowloon City Court heard on Wednesday that the 49-year-old defendant, identified as “ATK”, preferred probation to community service because he would lose his job and the substantial pension accumulated over more than 30 years in the disciplined services. He earlier... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347818/leniency-shown-hong-kong-immigration-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-and-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347818/leniency-shown-hong-kong-immigration-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-and-son?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:17:45 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft When Hong Kong’s Uzma Naveed discovered she was a finalist for a women’s empowerment global award in Paris, it should have been the proudest moment of her life. Instead, she was left with mixed feelings. The 37-year-old refugee from Pakistan was chosen from a pool of 1,500 nominees from 97 jurisdictions for the “national impact” category of the Women Changing the World Awards, an annual event meant to celebrate women’s achievements. Uzma, who came to Hong Kong seeking asylum with her family in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347407/refugee-hong-kong-could-win-global-award-so-why-does-she-have-mixed-feelings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347407/refugee-hong-kong-could-win-global-award-so-why-does-she-have-mixed-feelings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 04:00:52 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Five people have been jailed in Hong Kong after an Immigration Department crackdown on illegal employment. The department said on Friday that it had raided 23 locations, including restaurants, cleaning companies and commercial buildings, during an operation carried out from Monday to Thursday. Officers arrested six men and 13 women, aged 22 to 62, found or suspected to be working illegally and six employers who allegedly hired them. Thirteen of those arrested held tourist visas – 11 from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:51:46 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong Immigration Department senior assistant who repeatedly grabbed his wife and young son by their throats during disputes has been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, with the magistrate telling the defendant he had already received significant leniency while pleading for probation. Kowloon City Court on Monday sentenced the 49-year-old defendant, identified in court as “ATK”, after he earlier admitted six counts of common assault. While the defence had pleaded for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346006/immigration-department-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-son-spared-jail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346006/immigration-department-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-son-spared-jail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:06:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It says something about the motivation of travellers, for business or pleasure, that they are undeterred by geopolitical turbulence, even if it results in outbreaks of localised conflict that force a re-routing to safe flight corridors. But that reckons without conflict arising from a surprise attack that suddenly engulfs an entire region. The latest escalation of hostilities between Iran and its American and Israeli adversaries, involving warplanes and warships, missiles, torpedoes and drones,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345745/redouble-efforts-ensure-safety-hongkongers-stranded-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345745/redouble-efforts-ensure-safety-hongkongers-stranded-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong travellers rejoiced on Wednesday evening after arriving home safely on the first flight from Dubai to the city since US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted global air links. Emirates flight EK380 was the first to arrive after Dubai’s two airports resumed “limited” operations two days ago, landing at around 9.50pm. Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport were both closed on Saturday after the conflict broke out, with Iran retaliating by targeting US military bases... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345478/relief-joy-first-flight-back-dubai-brings-stranded-hongkongers-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345478/relief-joy-first-flight-back-dubai-brings-stranded-hongkongers-home?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:53:30 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong’s women have withdrawn from the football Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai and will return home as soon as possible, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate. The team, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates last week and lost 4-0 to Ghana on Saturday, had been expected to play Tanzania on Wednesday before wrapping up the four-team tournament against Russia two days later. On Tuesday, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said it had formally notified tournament... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345239/hong-kongs-women-withdraw-dubai-football-event-will-head-home-soon-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345239/hong-kongs-women-withdraw-dubai-football-event-will-head-home-soon-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:24:45 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspended all passenger and cargo flights to and from the Middle East on Saturday following a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. The move was announced on Saturday evening after Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said that at least nine flights have been cancelled or postponed, while the government issued a fresh warning against travel to Iran. The warning came after the United States and Israel launched major air strikes on targets across Iran on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344987/hong-kong-issues-fresh-warning-against-travel-iran-amid-us-israeli-air-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344987/hong-kong-issues-fresh-warning-against-travel-iran-amid-us-israeli-air-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:16:45 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A senior assistant at Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has admitted to throttling his wife and five-year-old son multiple times in fits of rage over trivial quarrels. Kowloon City Court on Monday heard the guilty pleas from the 49-year-old defendant who assaulted his 39-year-old wife on three occasions between 2021 and 2024 at their home in Kwun Tong. He also attacked his son on three separate occasions between 2023 and 2025, when the boy was five years old at the time of the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344357/dad-throttled-wife-child-rage-over-trivial-quarrels-hong-kong-court-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344357/dad-throttled-wife-child-rage-over-trivial-quarrels-hong-kong-court-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:57:01 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong immigration authorities have pledged their full support to the family of a 26-year-old resident found dead in a Taipei hotel. The Immigration Department said on Thursday it had immediately contacted the man’s family after learning of the death. “The department has provided advice and assistance in line with the family’s wishes,” a spokesman said. He added it would maintain close contact with the deceased’s family and continue following up on the case. The man checked into the five-star... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343957/hong-kong-authorities-offer-support-family-man-found-dead-taipei-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343957/hong-kong-authorities-offer-support-family-man-found-dead-taipei-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:56:00 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities have arrested 119 people linked to a HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) racket that sold fake identity cards and arranged accommodation for cross-border workers to obtain jobs illegally in the city – the largest sum recorded in such a case to date. The city’s Immigration Department said on Thursday the operation, code-named “Sharpspear”, was carried out between last October and January this year in collaboration with Guangdong provincial and Zhuhai... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342476/119-arrests-made-over-hk20-million-fake-hong-kong-id-and-illegal-work-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342476/119-arrests-made-over-hk20-million-fake-hong-kong-id-and-illegal-work-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:04:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong immigration authorities have apprehended 19 people in a citywide crackdown targeting illegal labour, with those arrested including four suspected employers and two people alleged to have aided and abetted such activities. The Immigration Department on Friday said it had worked with police and the Labour Department in a string of operations between January 16 and 22 that led to the arrests. Immigration officers raided multiple locations, including restaurants and flats under renovation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341052/19-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341052/19-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:18:57 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong has deported 113 rejected non-refoulement claimants after a week-long operation, according to the Immigration Department. The operation codenamed “Shield” involved deporting a group of 68 men and 45 women, some of whom had completed prison sentences for criminal offences in the city. “A total of 113 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants who were illegal immigrants and overstayers were repatriated to their places of origin,” the department said on Monday. “The persons removed …... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340434/hong-kong-deports-113-failed-asylum-seekers-week-long-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340434/hong-kong-deports-113-failed-asylum-seekers-week-long-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:43:42 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Immigration authorities are following up on requests for assistance after two Hongkongers were reportedly killed in Ukraine while volunteering in the country’s war against Russia. In a reply to the Post, the Immigration Department said on Saturday that it had been following up on the requests and was providing support to the families of those involved. “Upon receiving the relevant requests for assistance, the Hong Kong Immigration Department immediately sought information from the Commissioner’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337909/requests-help-after-2-hongkongers-reportedly-killed-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3337909/requests-help-after-2-hongkongers-reportedly-killed-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:58:54 +0000 Mary Ann Benitez Mary Ann Benitez Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr lauded domestic helper Rhodora Alcaraz as a hero for her role in saving her employer’s baby during Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. Romulo Victor M Israel Jnr, the country’s top diplomat in Hong Kong, also told the Post that Alcaraz, a survivor of last month’s inferno at Wang Fuk Court, was facing a long physical recovery. The helper met President Marcos, together with his wife, Maria Louise Araneta-Marcos, when she arrived at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336678/philippines-marcos-lauds-helper-returning-home-after-deadly-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336678/philippines-marcos-lauds-helper-returning-home-after-deadly-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:21:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hundreds of Hong Kong tourists were in Japan when a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck late Monday night, but local authorities said all were reported safe with no requests for help received so far. The Travel Industry Council on Tuesday said that about 20 Hong Kong tour groups – with about 300 people – were in the country when the quake hit northern Japan at 11.15pm, triggering a warning of an increased risk of a magnitude 8 or larger earthquake in the coming week. “All of them are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335805/hundreds-hong-kong-tourists-safe-after-powerful-earthquake-rocks-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335805/hundreds-hong-kong-tourists-safe-after-powerful-earthquake-rocks-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:15:04 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong immigration authorities have arrested six foreign domestic helpers on suspicion of operating an unlicensed dental clinic in a hidden tenement flat in Sham Shui Po, as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal labour activities. The Immigration Department said on Monday that the suspects, aged between 34 and 60, were all from the Philippines. Two worked as unlicensed dentists, while the rest were assistants, providing services such as scaling, orthodontic treatment and denture... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322195/6-domestic-helpers-held-running-dirty-illegal-dental-clinic-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322195/6-domestic-helpers-held-running-dirty-illegal-dental-clinic-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:09:21 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s Immigration Department is assisting the family of a 16-year-old resident who reportedly died while climbing a snow-covered mountain in Sichuan province in mainland China. An image circulating online believed to show an official bulletin from the Mount Siguniang Scenic Area Administration said the victim was a Hong Kong resident living in Shenzhen in Guangdong province. His parents registered him on Saturday for an outdoor activity organised by a travel agency and provided a letter of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316557/hong-kong-teen-dies-5276-metre-peak-sichuan-province?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316557/hong-kong-teen-dies-5276-metre-peak-sichuan-province?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:08:10 +0000