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An Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body protest against slavery in Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong government spokesman rejects findings of modern slavery report

Global Slavery Index rates city worse than mainland China for ‘inadequate’ response to issues like human trafficking, forced labour and debt bondage

The authors of a hard-hitting report which ranked Hong Kong as one of the worst places in the world for its response to the problem of “modern slavery” have been accused of sloppy research and inaccurate conclusions.

Rejecting the findings of the 2016 Global Slavery Index – which ranked the SAR alongside North Korea, Iran and Eritrea for its “inadequate” response to the problem – the Hong Kong government pulled no punches.

A Security Bureau spokesman questioned the methodology of the investigation into human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and commercial sexual exploitation in more than 160 countries.

He said the approach had resulted in an incomplete and inaccurate picture.

“We note that the rating of government was determined based only on desk-based research and information provided by partnering NGOs, without any verification on accuracy and completeness from the Government,’’ the spokesman said.

“The consequence is that some of the data and information...for instance the training of officers and assistance rendered to victims of human trafficking, were outdated or inaccurate.

“We cannot agree with the findings or ranking in the report.”

The spokesman added that the government and people of Hong Kong did not condone “in any way” acts of modern slavery.

The government said the SAR has well-established legal framework with prescribed penalties ranging from 10-years to life imprisonment and administrative measures to combat human trafficking.

“Our work is multi-faceted, covering inter-departmental collaboration, victim identification, enforcement and prosecution, victim protection and assistance, and international cooperation.

“Law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong take all trafficking reports seriously and maintain close liaison with foreign consulates and NGOs with a view to bringing to justice human trafficking criminals, ” the spokesman added.

Published yesterday by the Walk Free Foundation – a charitable organisation set up by Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola – the index is the only one of its kind.

It offers estimates of the number of people in modern slavery, describes what makes victims vulnerable and ranks governments on their response to the problem.

The index said there was evidence “that some (Hong Kong) government policies and practices facilitate slavery and that services are largely provided by NGOs with limited government funding or in-kind support”.

China, while criticised for having so many people enslaved according to the index, receives a higher ranking than Hong Kong for the actions it is taking to combat the problem.

This is the third such annual index published by the foundation which arrived at its latest rankings after carrying out almost 42,000 interviews in 53 languages across 25 countries, representing 44 per cent of the global population.

Asian countries hold the top five positions for highest number of people trapped in slavery, accounting for almost 58 per cent of the total, or 26.6 million people.

India remains top of the list with an estimated 18.35 million people enslaved, followed by China with 3.39 million, Pakistan with 2.13 million, Bangladesh with 1.53 million and Uzbekistan with 1.23 million. Hong Kong was said to have 29,500 people enslaved.

Twenty-two illegal immigrants being smuggled into Hong Kong from South Asia were detained near the water in Chek Lap Kok. Photo: SCMP Pictures
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