HK Chief Executive vows thorough efforts to rescue 10 HKers held captive in Southeast Asian countries

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that 10 Hong Kong residents were still held captive in Southeast Asian countries, and HKSAR authorities will carry out thorough investigations and make every effort to secure their rescue.

Lee said before attending the Executive Council meeting that the HKSAR government is deeply committed to addressing cases of Hong Kong residents who are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries, detained, and deprived of their freedom, with the city’s Security Bureau task force working tirelessly to rescue the victims.

Lee said that among the 28 Hong Kong residents imprisoned in Southeast Asian countries, 16 were rescued before the Security Bureau increased its efforts. An additional two individuals have been rescued since, leaving 10 Hong Kong residents still detained, according to RTHK, one of Hong Kong’s major broadcasters.

According to Lee, the HKSAR authorities will address the situation through four main measures: conducting thorough investigations, enforcing the law, enhancing cooperation with organizations and countries, and jointly combating related crimes to rescue victims.

Lee said on January 14 that the Security Bureau dispatched a task force to Thailand to collaborate with relevant authorities on joint investigations and assistance for Hong Kong residents reportedly detained in Southeast Asia under illegal circumstances. A total of 28 requests for help from residents believed to have been trapped in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave since the second quarter of 2024.