Opinion | Hong Kong’s resolve to tackle people trafficking and protect domestic helpers is beyond doubt
- Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung says recent record on fighting people trafficking and protection of domestic helpers is clear
As a vibrant international metropolis, Hong Kong attaches immense importance to the rule of law. We have in place a host of effective and comprehensive legislation to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) crimes and protect foreign domestic helpers (FDHs).
Our multi-legislation approach has served Hong Kong well. It is thus unfair and groundless for some critics to accuse the government of lacking the determination in tackling people trafficking simply because there is no composite law here.
The government has provided HK$62 million recurrent funding in the financial secretary’s latest 2019-20 budget to create an additional 98 posts to vigorously implement the Action Plan to Tackle TIP and to Enhance Protection of FDHs.
The plan stems from the Steering Committee to Tackle TIP and to Enhance Protection of FDHs which is chaired by the chief secretary for administration, with the secretary for security and secretary for labour and welfare as vice-chairmen and relevant department heads as members.
The additional manpower will significantly boost the anti-trafficking capacity of the police, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise Department, Labour Department and Department of Justice and demonstrates that people trafficking and exploitation of domestic helpers are never tolerated in Hong Kong.
Of the 14 new measures in the action plan, 10 have been implemented, with the remaining four to be rolled out later this year. Our relentless efforts are paying good dividends.
