Hong Kong immigration officers have arrested 12 people in a citywide crackdown on illegal labour, with some suspects allegedly working unlawfully as make-up artists for fans attending concerts by singer Gloria Tang Tsz-kei, known as G.E.M.
The suspects were apprehended during a two-day operation that began on Wednesday, which involved raids on more than 50 locations, including restaurants, massage parlours, hotel rooms and outdoor shooting venues. Among those arrested were nine suspected illegal workers.
Authorities said they believed five mainland Chinese suspects – a man and four women – had promoted make-up and photography services on social media platforms, such as RedNote. They were arrested for allegedly breaching their conditions of stay by working illegally in Hong Kong.
The services included portraits for fan club registrations, bridal shoots, banquet coverage and event make-up, with prices ranging from 999 yuan (US$139) to 2,699 yuan.
Some are suspected of renting hotel rooms in Hong Kong to serve as temporary “make-up studios”, charging about HK$80 (US$10) per session.
They allegedly provided make-up services for a supporter group of G.E.M. who held five shows at the city’s Kai Tak Sports Park. The concerts concluded on Wednesday.
The operation was launched after online surveillance identified mainland-based artists promoting their availability for work in Hong Kong. Undercover officers then posed as clients to gather evidence before making the arrests.
