119 arrests made over HK$20 million fake Hong Kong ID and illegal work scheme

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Theodora YuFebruary 5, 2026 at 07:04 AM

AI Summary

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Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities arrested 119 individuals involved in a HK$20 million fake ID and illegal work scheme between October and January. The operation, dubbed "Operation Sharpspear," targeted a syndicate forging Hong Kong identity cards and arranging illegal employment and accommodation for cross-border workers. Authorities seized approximately 40 fake IDs and 24 photocopies, with the syndicate charging around HK$3,200 per forged card. Arrests included illegal workers, employers, and the syndicate's mastermind and accomplice. The Immigration Department stated they would continue inspections to protect local employment opportunities, as the syndicate had been active for about a year.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Illegal Workers ×260% Guangdong 60% Zhuhai 60% Tang Ka-fai 70% Operation Sharpspear 70% Mainland China 70% Immigration Department 80% Hong Kong ×390%

Keywords

fake hong kong id 100% illegal work scheme 90% arrests 80% forged identity cards 70% illegal workers 60% cross-border recruits 60% operation sharpspear 50% syndicate 50% immigration department 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: 0.05

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Hong Kong

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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fake hong kong id illegal work scheme arrests forged identity cards illegal workers cross-border recruits operation sharpspear syndicate immigration department

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