Hong Kong authorities arrest 43 women in crackdown on illegal sex workers

On the same day, police carried out a joint operation against illegal sex workers and unlawful employment with the Immigration Department in Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Sha Tsui.

During the operation, 21 mainland visitors and two non-Chinese women were arrested.

As of Tuesday morning, all the women were being held for questioning. Police said relevant departments would follow up on the cases.

In Hong Kong, employing illegal workers is punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a HK$500,000 (US$64,132) fine, according to the force.

The force also warns that violating stay conditions carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a HK$50,000 fine.

Earlier this month, officers from the Kowloon East regional crime unit arrested 39 people in a crackdown on a cross-border syndicate that raked in HK$30 million in less than a year by bringing sex workers over the border to work in hotels, including a five-star one in Tsim Sha Tsui.