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In response to media enquiries on the "US Trafficking in Persons Report 2009", a Government spokesman said today (June 17) that Hong Kong attaches great importance to combating human trafficking.
"The criticisms on Hong Kong in the report are unfounded and unfair. We have been taking effective measures in a comprehensive manner in terms of enforcement, prosecution, prevention and victim protection and will spare no efforts in collaborating with our overseas law enforcement partners to this end," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong's efforts in combating human trafficking have all along been recognised. Hong Kong had been placed Tier 1 in the US Trafficking in Persons Reports since 2001. During the reporting period in 2008, the number of human trafficking cases remained rare and the law enforcement agencies have continued to take proactive measures in combating trafficking in persons.
"We do not see any difference, certainly no deterioration, in the trend of such crimes or effectiveness of our law enforcement in terms of number of arrests, prosecutions or convictions. Hence we are puzzled and disappointed that Hong Kong is placed under Tier 2 in the 2009 Report," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said Hong Kong is neither a destination for human trafficking nor a place of origin for exporting illegal immigrants. In fact, the number of reported human trafficking cases has declined in 2008, compared to previous three years.
"We take all trafficking cases seriously and are determined to bring to justice those who engage in human trafficking."
"Notwithstanding the rare occurrence of human trafficking crimes in Hong Kong, in 2008, we successfully prosecuted an offender for "trafficking in persons from Hong Kong" through an undercover police operation. The convicted criminal was sentenced to three years imprisonment."
It is alleged in the Report that "one foreign consulate reported identifying seven trafficking victims during the reporting period who were recruited to work as waitresses in Hong Kong, but were subsequently forced into prostitution".
"The alleged cases in the Report were never brought to the attention of our law enforcement agencies and there was no further information to allow follow-up work or detailed investigation of the cases. The law enforcement agencies have all along maintained close liaison with foreign consulates, HK-based non-governmental organisations and overseas law enforcement agencies to exchange intelligence and investigate suspected cases and to proactively identify trafficking victims among vulnerable groups."
"We will continue to liaise with the US Consul-General with a view to taking strict and effective enforcement actions against any such cases, if substantiated," the spokesman added.
Ends/Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:51
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