Two mainland students held over paid Macau photoshoot
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Macau police said two mainland Chinese female students were intercepted on October 1 in the Cotai area after officers allegedly saw them taking photos and exchanging cash during a paid travel photoshoot. The 20-year-old hirer is suspected of illegal employment, while the 21-year-old photographer, who entered on a tourist permit, was referred to Macau's Labour Affairs Bureau for allegedly performing paid work unlawfully.
Key Points
- Public Security Police officers were patrolling the Cotai-Taipa road area on the evening of October 1 when they spotted two women photographing and handling cash.
- Investigators said a 20-year-old mainland student contacted an unrelated 21-year-old mainland woman through social media and hired her for RMB400 per hour.
- Police said the photographer was brought to Macau specifically to provide travel photography services for the hirer and her friends.
- Officers seized one camera and several mobile phones at the scene; HK01 reported three phones were collected as evidence.
- The hirer was transferred to prosecutors on suspicion of non-compliant employment, while the photographer was referred to labour officials over paid work on a tourist endorsement.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong and Macau travellers, the case underlines that even informal holiday photoshoot arrangements arranged on social platforms can trigger criminal or administrative consequences when payment is involved. Macau is also planning legal changes to regulate paid mobile photography at tourist sites, with registration proposed for Macau residents only.