Key facts
- Hong Kong immigration authorities arrested four women for visa abuse.
- The women allegedly ran unlicensed one-stop shops offering cosmetic, photography, and tour guide services.
- Suspects charged several hundred Hong Kong dollars daily for services.
- A joint operation by the Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority targeted illegal workers.
- A 27-year-old man was arrested for suspected illegal work and breaching visa conditions.
- Two 31-year-old individuals (one male, one female) were arrested for similar offenses.
Hong Kong immigration authorities are cracking down on tourists who allegedly abuse their visas to operate unlicensed one-stop shops offering services such as cosmetic treatments, photography, and tour guiding. Li Kwing-chiu, a task force commander with the Immigration Department, revealed on Monday that four women, aged 20 to 31, were arrested for allegedly breaching their conditions of stay by running such businesses and charging several hundred Hong Kong dollars daily.
The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) have conducted joint operations to combat illegal workers advertising tour guide and tour escort services via social media. In one operation on May 4, 2026, officers posed as customers and arrested a 27-year-old Mainland visitor suspected of being an illegal worker providing services. The ImmD stated that any person contravening their conditions of stay is committing an offence, with potential penalties of a fine up to HK$50,000 and two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors face similar penalties.
In a separate operation on September 7 and 8, 2026, the ImmD and TIA arrested two Mainland visitors, a man and a woman both aged 31, for suspected illegal work and breaching conditions of stay. Another operation on July 27 and 28, 2026, resulted in the arrest of two women, aged 22 and 31, for similar offenses. The ImmD and TIA have also distributed leaflets at tourist hotspots to warn the public against employing illegal tour escorts or guides.