Hong Kong – Man convicted of operating unlicensed employment agency
Man convicted of operating unlicensed employment agency
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The Labour Department (LD) today (January 9) reminded members of the public to obtain a licence before operating an employment agency (EA), or else they may face prosecution.
The reminder was issued after a man was convicted of operating an unlicensed EA and was fined $10,000 at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today.
In May 2022, the LD received a complaint against a man from an employer seeking to hire a foreign domestic helper. As the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the man was operating an unlicensed EA, the LD decided to take out prosecution.
All establishments or persons operating a business in Hong Kong for the purpose of obtaining employment for another person or supplying personnel to an employer are governed by Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. Irrespective of the modus operandi or the types of jobs referred, all EAs must obtain a licence issued by the LD before undertaking any EA activities. Except for the EA licence holder or his or her associates, no one shall operate, manage or assist in the management of an EA. Offenders may face prosecution.
The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for EAs at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and/or revocation of licence. The maximum penalties for the offences of unlicensed operation of an EA or overcharging commission from job-seekers are a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Should there be enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about malpractices of EAs, please contact the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD by calling 2115 3667, e-mailing ea-ee@labour.gov.hk, or visiting its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.
Couple convicted and jailed for money laundering of about $42 million
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Hong Kong – Couple convicted and jailed for money laundering of about $42 million
A couple were sentenced to two years and six months’ and three years and nine months’ imprisonment today (June 21) at the District Court following earlier conviction for money laundering of about $42 million in total by receiving an extensive amount of overseas remittance from unknown sources through bank accounts under their names, in contravention of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO).
During an investigation against a transnational syndicate selling counterfeit handbags in 2016, Customs officers found that the couple were suspected of receiving considerable amounts of suspicious overseas remittance through various local bank accounts to launder the crime proceeds. The total amount involved reached $42 million.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of money laundering offences.
Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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