Another Hongkonger returns home after being caught up in Southeast Asia forced labour scam

One more Hong Kong victim of a job scam luring residents to Southeast Asia for forced labour has been brought back home, bringing the total number of returnees to 23.

The Security Bureau said the man returned safely from Thailand on Sunday.

It noted his return was a joint effort by the foreign ministry’s office in the city, Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, a bureau task force and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok.

Since January, Hong Kong authorities have received 42 requests for help in relation to the human trafficking scam. Twenty-seven of the victims were confirmed to be safe and 23 had returned to Hong Kong.

Of the 15 others, three were still being held in Myanmar, and 12 in Cambodia.