This undated photo shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
The central government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government are actively rescuing Hong Kong people who were lured to Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, by online scams and detained to engage in illegal work there.
According to a press briefing by the Police Force on Thursday afternoon, the force have received 20 requests for assistance since January, which involved Hong Kong people who were allegedly the victims of scams in Southeast Asian countries.
The Police Force have received 20 requests for assistance since January, which involved Hong Kong people who were allegedly the victims of scams in Southeast Asian countries
Of those, 12 people have been confirmed as safe — 10 of whom have since returned to Hong Kong — said Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, the under secretary for security.
The other eight people are currently in Myanmar, he said, adding that they are out of contact and their personal freedom is restricted. The biggest difficulty the police face is in confirming their actual locations, Cheuk said. He stressed that police officers will make every effort to rescue them with the help of the relevant parties.
According to Cheuk, sporadic cases were reported in January, and the number increased from June to August. In view of this, the police issued social media posts in mid-July to remind the public to be on the alert for such fraudulent activity.
A day earlier, a spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR said that the office has been actively searching for Hong Kong people who are out of contact with related departments.
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The office has made Hong Kong-related consular protection a priority, and will make every effort to safeguard the safety and legitimate interests of overseas Hong Kong compatriots, the spokesperson said.
Noting that the current security situation in Myanmar is complex, the spokesperson advised Hong Kong compatriots to be alert, avoid traveling to dangerous areas and to avoid online fraud, gambling and other illegal activities to ensure their personal safety.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Security Bureau also said it is concerned about the incidents and reminds members of the public to be vigilant against employment fraud.
It appeals to people to guard against claims of opportunities to make quick money, and of jobs offering extraordinarily high pay with no specific requirements for academic qualification or relevant work experience, the statement said.
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Overseas Hong Kong people who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at 852-1868; call the 1868 hotline by network data call via the Immigration Department Mobile Application; or submit the Online Assistance Request Form, the bureau said.