Hong Kong’s security chief insists city has ‘sufficient and robust’ measures to combat human trafficking amid calls for legal amendments
- Secretary for Security Chris Tang says city already has ‘over 50 different offences’ laid down in various ordinances to handle cases of human trafficking
- Six residents freed from captivity in Southeast Asia return to Hong Kong on Friday
Hong Kong’s security chief has insisted the city already has “sufficient and robust” legal mechanisms to combat human trafficking, dismissing calls for tougher penalties and enhanced protections for victims scammed into travelling overseas for work or romance.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Friday also said authorities had maintained an initial screening measure to identify any potential victims among arrestees such as illegal immigrants or sex workers.
“Hong Kong is never an originating country, transit place or destination for human trafficking. As a matter of fact, we have over 50 different offences, in different ordinances that can handle situations relating to trafficking in persons,” he said.
“So we have sufficient laws and a robust system in handling, if there are any trafficking activities in Hong Kong.”
Under the current system, Hong Kong has no specific legislation that addresses human trafficking into and from the city, while most of the offences used to combat such activities are laid down in laws for other crimes, as well as ones governing employment and immigration.
Tang made the remarks during a media briefing where he was asked about government efforts to help rescue Hongkongers being held captive in Southeast Asia after being tricked into travelling there as a result of employment and romance scams.
