The Government attaches great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. Following the meeting with the Consul-General of Thailand in Hong Kong yesterday (January 16), the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, today (January 17) met with the Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, with a commitment to following up on the relevant request-for-assistance cases.
Mr Tang met with the Consul-General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, Mr Han Win Naing, at his consulate premises. Mr Tang shared with him the results of the dedicated task force, comprising members from the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, which departed for Thailand earlier to follow up on relevant cases. He exchanged views and shared information with Mr Han Win Naing on the issue and discussed strengthening future follow-up work. Mr Tang received positive feedback from Mr Han Win Naing, with all parties expressing hope to assist more assistance seekers in returning to Hong Kong safely as soon as possible.
In August 2022, the SB established a dedicated task force to co-ordinate follow-up work on the cases by relevant law enforcement departments. Since 2024 to date, law enforcement agencies have received a total of 28 requests for assistance in relation to Hong Kong residents alleging to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and have been unable to leave. Seventeen of them have already returned. The dedicated task force will continue to follow up on the remaining 11 cases.
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