The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     A spokesperson for the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (October 9) expressed firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the completely false, slanderous and biased content regarding HKSAR's efforts to tackle trafficking in persons (TIP) in the Trafficking in Persons Report 2026 (Report) issued by the Department of State of the United States (US). LegCo firmly supports the statement issued by the HKSAR Government to set the record straight and clarify fallacies.
 
     The LegCo spokesperson stressed that the rating of Hong Kong at Tier 3 in the Department of State of the US's so-called Report is completely groundless and an attempt to smear Hong Kong's good reputation. The content of the Report deviate grossly from the actual situation in Hong Kong and the international community's positive evaluation of the city. In fact, as pointed out by the HKSAR Government, TIP has never been a prevalent problem in Hong Kong, nor is there any sign that Hong Kong is being actively used by syndicates as a destination or transit point for TIP.
 
     In its statement, the HKSAR Government forcefully rebutted the allegations with objective figures, demonstrating the proactive and multi-pronged strategy to combat TIP activities it adopted, as well as the substantial resources in tackling TIP and enhancing the protection for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. Among these efforts, the HKSAR Government conducted around 12 100 initial screenings in 2025 (a 7 per cent increase over last year) and identified 15 TIP victims, all of whom were Hong Kong residents falling prey to employment fraud in Southeast Asian countries. The HKSAR Government's swift actions in effectively assisting these residents to return safely to Hong Kong, identifying them as TIP victims, thoroughly investigating these cases and prosecuting the people involved highlight Hong Kong's firm determination to combat TIP and safeguard the lives, safety and human rights of citizens. As an integral part of the HKSAR's governing team, LegCo will, as always, render full support to the HKSAR Government in combating TIP activities through policy advice and legislative work.
 
     The LegCo spokesperson pointed out that the selective citation of data in the so-called Report and the unwarranted criticisms against Hong Kong's victim identification efforts are deeply hypocritical and reflect double standards, especially when studies and reports in the US have highlighted systemic underreporting of TIP cases and shortcomings by law enforcement agencies in the US. Yet, the Department of State of the US made wanton accusations against Hong Kong's rigorous work. Hong Kong will never accept such politically-motivated selective targeting.
 
     The LegCo spokesperson also pointed out that the so-called Report made untruthful remarks regarding the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, completely disregarding the laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong have explicitly stipulated that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applicable to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law. Relevant court cases have clearly shown that laws safeguarding national security target only a very small number of organisations and individuals that endanger national security. Normal activities of any law-abiding persons or organisations will not unwittingly violate the law.
 
     The LegCo spokesperson urges the US to respect facts, stop issuing false reports filled with political bias, abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. The US should also refrain from using double standards to smear and vilify the actual situation in the HKSAR and its long-standing efforts to combat TIP, so as to avoid undermining mutual trust and co-operation in the international community's fight against TIP.

Ends/Friday, October 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:55

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