23 asylum seekers arrested in Hong Kong for working illegally with major food delivery apps, Post learns – Technologist

More than 20 asylum seekers from South Asia have been arrested for working with major food delivery platforms in Hong Kong by using other local riders’ accounts, the Post has learned.

The 23 arrestees, who are non-refoulement claimants, allegedly rented other couriers’ accounts on food delivery apps and took orders to deliver meals to earn a commission, a police source on Monday said.

Officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau made the arrests on Saturday and Sunday, and visited the offices of major platforms including KeeTa, Foodpanda and Deliveroo on Monday as part of the investigation, the force insider added.

Some illegal immigrants make non-refoulement claims after arriving, and are allowed to remain in the city until relevant authorities vet their applications for resettlement in a third country. But these immigrants are not allowed to work while their applications are being assessed.

The arrestees, who were charged with conspiracy to defraud and taking paid or unpaid employment illegally, appeared in West Kowloon Court on Monday.

The source said the operation would continue, while warning those providing their accounts for illegal workers to use could be charged with aiding and abetting illegal employment and conspiracy to defraud.

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A spokesman from Deliveroo said the platform was cooperating fully with the investigation to the best of its abilities, adding authorities would not tolerate any illegal behaviour.

“All Deliveroo riders must have a legal work permit to work in Hong Kong, with all applicants’ ID checked and verified to ensure they have the right to work,” the spokesman said.

Last year, the delivery platform launched an identity verification function for riders to verify their online identities. Riders found to be ineligible to work would have their accounts terminated, the company added.

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Meanwhile, a Foodpanda spokesman said the company did not tolerate any form of illegal work and had implemented measures to prevent such issues. For example, riders were required to create an account using their real identities, and provide identification proof, residential address, as well as bank account details.

Surprise inspections were also conducted, the firm said.

KeeTa said it had required Hong Kong residents to provide complete identification documents and valid work permits to approve their accounts.

All delivery riders must submit a selfie verification before they can accept orders, a spokesman said. The system will then verify if the selfie matches the registered information.

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Barrister Jackson Poon Chin-ping said employers would be held responsible if they deliberately hired someone who did not have the right to work in the city.

“Usually the person who directly recruits the illegal workers would be held accountable,” he said, adding that the company’s higher-ups, who did not have direct involvement in the recruitment process, shared no liability.

To prove the employers’ intent of hiring someone unemployable, the law enforcement only practiced “common sense”, Poon said.

Under Immigration Ordinance, employers of illegal workers are subject to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year.

Additional reporting by Fiona Chow