Hong Kong not a human trafficking hub, says government after US report puts city on par with Ethiopia

The United States has ranked Hong Kong's efforts to stamp out human trafficking on a par with those in Ethiopia and Iraq, identifying the city again as "a destination, transit, and source territory for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour".

Washington's latest report on the issue, released yesterday, also criticised the city for not having laws that "specifically prohibit all forms of trafficking". The report called out the Hong Kong government for failing to "prosecute any suspects for trafficking and [reporting] significantly fewer convictions than in 2013" last year, and urged the city to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law.

It also highlighted the plight of some foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong and urged the government to "vigorously prosecute suspected labour traffickers, especially those who exploit foreign domestic workers".

The government issued a statement last night, insisting there was "no sign or evidence" that Hong Kong had become a human trafficking hub. It said the report did not "fully reflect the unfailing commitment and continuous efforts" by local authorities to combat the problem.

The report, released annually since 2001, evaluates the efforts of 188 countries and territories to comply with the anti-trafficking laws of the United States. The places are rated on a tiered system, from best to worst - tier one, two, two-watch list, and three.

Hong Kong was also ranked tier two in last year's report.