Thirty-seven illegal workers and three employers, aged 24 to 55, have been arrested in the northern New Territories.

Police, Immigration and Labour Department officers raided more than 80 locations, including farmland, recycling plants, factories, warehouses, restaurants, retail shops, construction sites, garages, villas under construction and a poultry stall.

Twenty-eight men and nine women were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay. Thirty-two are Mainlanders mostly from Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang. Three local employers, a man and two women, were also arrested for hiring illegal workers.

Visitors are not allowed to work, paid or unpaid, without prior permission from the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to a $50,000 fine and two years' jail. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.

It is an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a $350,000 fine and three years' prison.