Hong Kong is the 'destination, transit, and source' of human trafficking: US demands more be done
Senior American official presses Hong Kong to prosecute traffickers as well as identify and protect victims, including domestic helpers
Hong Kong authorities should do more to combat human trafficking, including by prosecuting those who exploit victims, according to the deputy head of the US office dealing with the issue.
Kari Johnstone - principal deputy director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons - also noted the need to "proactively identify victims among vulnerable populations, such as women and children who were arrested during police raids, domestic workers and migrant workers" as well as "provide full protection to these victims consistent with international best practices."
The US representative had meetings in Hong Kong on Thursday and Friday with local non-governmental organisations as well as Hong Kong officials, including Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok and Director of Public Prosecutions Keith Yeung Kar-hung, according to an official statement from the US office.
Johnstone's visit to Hong Kong coincided with a call by the Department of Justice for High Court judge Mr Justice Kevin Zervos to step down from a landmark judicial review on human trafficking over possible bias relating to remarks he made when he was director of public prosecutions.
BACKGROUND: Hong Kong judge told to step down from human trafficking case over 'possible bias' after supporting action against labour exploitation and sex trafficking
The judicial review, which is set to begin in January, challenges the government over its commitment to tackle human trafficking and its failure to pass laws protecting victims. It centres on a man's claim that he was brought to Hong Kong to undertake forced labour.
After seeking help from different government departments, including the police and the Immigration Department, he now alleges the city does not have a proper system to protect human trafficking victims.