The Government disagrees that Hong Kong is a destination, transit and source territory for human trafficking for sex trade and forced labour, as suggested in the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report 2015.
It made the rebuttal in a statement responding to the US report, which put Hong Kong in Tier Two again.
Though the report acknowledged Hong Kong’s key anti human trafficking achievements, it also contains descriptions that do not fully reflect the Government’s unfailing commitment and continuous efforts in the fight against human trafficking, the statement said.
The report also drew reference to cases concerning the protection of rights of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
The statement stressed that all people in Hong Kong are under the protection of the law, law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. The conviction of the former employer of a foreign domestic helper this year has demonstrated that the law enforcement regime is effective in protecting the rights of helpers.
Hong Kong's comprehensive legislative framework underpinned law enforcement agencies' robust enforcement. The Government will continue to collaborate closely with local and overseas counterparts to combat human trafficking.
