HKSAR government says U.S. 'trafficking in persons' report findings untrue

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday strongly deplored and firmly opposed untruthful remarks about Hong Kong in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the U.S. Department of State.

Trafficking in persons is not a prevalent problem in Hong Kong, and there has never been any sign that criminal syndicates are using Hong Kong as a destination or transit point for trafficking in persons, said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government, adding that the findings in the report are groundless.

Regarding the unsubstantiated remarks in the report about the lack of composite trafficking legislation in Hong Kong, the spokesperson noted that the HKSAR government's current legislative framework, which comprises over 50 legal provisions against various trafficking in persons conducts, provides a comprehensive package of safeguards comparable to composite trafficking in persons laws found in other jurisdictions.

"There is no indication to suggest that the effectiveness of Hong Kong's anti-trafficking in persons efforts have in any way been undermined without composite trafficking legislation," the spokesperson said.

The HKSAR government has been making proactive and multipronged efforts to fight trafficking in persons since the beginning. In March 2018, a high-level steering committee was established to provide policy guidance on combating trafficking in persons and protecting foreign domestic helpers.

It promulgated an action plan with multifaceted, comprehensive, strategic and targeted measures, all firmly put in place by the end of 2019, to cover victim identification, investigation, enforcement, prosecution, victim protection and support, prevention and partnership with different stakeholders, according to the spokesperson.

(With input from Xinhua)