Immigration arrests four visitors over paid tourism services
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 23 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Immigration Department said it arrested four women aged 20 to 31 during a two-day operation on September 27 and 28 after investigators posed as customers and booked suspected illegal services. The women had entered Hong Kong as visitors and will be charged with breaching their conditions of stay, according to the department. Officials said one suspect advertised hair and makeup services for about HK$700 per session, while the other three offered photography and tour-guide services for about HK$400 to HK$600. The department said the services were promoted through personal social media accounts, including advertisements seen on Xiaohongshu, with deposits required in advance.
Key Points
- Investigators said they identified the targets through online patrols, intelligence analysis and an in-depth probe before launching enforcement action on September 27 and 28.
- Officers went undercover as customers, made inquiries and bookings online, then arrested the women when they arrived in Hong Kong to provide services.
- Immigration said one arrested woman worked as a makeup artist charging about HK$700, while three others acted as photographers and tour guides charging HK$400 to HK$600.
- The advertised packages covered itinerary planning, camera equipment rental and styling advice at theme parks, the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and the West Kowloon Cultural District.
- Officers seized camera gear, props, makeup items and smartphones, and authorities said more arrests were possible as the investigation continued.
Why It Matters
The case adds to official scrutiny of visitor-arranged paid services marketed through social media ahead of a busy holiday travel period. The Immigration Department also used the operation to warn tourists and consumers not to hire people who are not lawfully employable in Hong Kong, saying both illegal work and employing illegal workers carry criminal penalties.