Beijing envoys should help city scam victims
- Central government has the resources and experience to bring home those held captive in Myanmar and Cambodia after being lured by fraudulent offers
Hong Kong objects to being labelled a hub for human trafficking. The presence of residents among victims of a Southeast Asian job scam should therefore sound an alarm.
Activists continue advocating more effective local laws, especially against forced labour. Hong Kong cannot handle the regional scam alone, and it is more a diplomatic issue for mainland authorities.
Hundreds or even thousands have fallen victim to employment or online lonely hearts fraud that lured them mainly to Myanmar and Cambodia. They claim to have been detained, tortured, cheated out of their money and forced to scam others.
Some were trafficked for the sex trade. Victims and their families from Hong Kong, the mainland, Taiwan, Macau and Malaysia have called on authorities for help to free them and return them safely home. Beijing said in July it rescued several mainlanders after families asked for help.
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Hong Kong has identified about 40 cases of its own residents so far. About half are now safe and some have returned home, but many remain trapped. The Security Bureau has set up a special task force to help them. Arrests have been made in Hong Kong, including that of a senior member of a syndicate.
However, law enforcement cooperation with these countries can only go so far to free them. High-level corruption often proves an obstacle. It cannot be allowed to prevail.
In this regard, politically, Hong Kong lacks direct representation at the diplomatic level. It is time for Beijing, through its embassies, to leverage its good relations with Myanmar and Cambodia to shut down the syndicates and free victims.
These criminal syndicates are often backed by triads and even government officials. It will take political determination to deal with them effectively.
Beijing’s resources and experience in returning fugitives to face justice would be invaluable, but action must also begin at home, through effective laws against forced labour and trafficking.
While people still fall for such scams it will be an uphill battle, though one that should not be shirked. The uncertainty and loss of opportunity caused by the pandemic make more people vulnerable. So as well as new laws and better enforcement there is room for education and awareness about offers too good to be true.
