Immigration Department officers yesterday arrested 13 people during a city-wide crackdown on illegal workers.

From 7.45am to 8.30pm yesterday, Immigration Task Force officers raided 29 places,  including restaurants, shops, temporary stalls, an elderly home, factory godowns and a residential unit under decoration. They arrested seven illegal workers - a man and six women aged 28 to 42. One woman had a Hong Kong identity card suspected of being forged.

They also arrested four men and two women, aged 26 to 49, who were suspected to have employed illegal workers.

Stiff penalties

Visitors are not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the Director of Immigration's permission. Offenders may be prosecuted and subject to a maximum $50,000 fine and two years in prison if convicted.

The maximum penalty for using or possessing a forged identity card is a $100,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

Employing people who are not lawfully employable is an offence, subject to a maximum penalty of a $350,000 fine and three years in prison.