(ECNS) -- The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) strongly objected to the unsubstantiated remarks about Hong Kong in the Trafficking in Persons Report 2024 (Report) of the Department of State of the United States.
"We vehemently oppose and firmly reject the unfounded and false remarks in the Report against the situation in Hong Kong. Trafficking in persons (TIP) is never a prevalent problem in Hong Kong. There has never been any sign that Hong Kong is being actively used by syndicates as a destination or transit point for TIP. The findings in the Report are groundless. The rating of Hong Kong at Tier 2 (Watch List) is utterly unfair, misconceived, and not substantiated by facts," a spokesperson for the HKSAR Government said in an announcement.
The spokesperson stressed that the HKSAR Government has all along been making proactive and multi-pronged efforts in the fight against TIP.
"It has injected an enormous amount of resources into combatting TIP and enhancing the protection for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong. As a responsible member of the international community, we will continue our firm commitment to combatting TIP," the spokesperson said.