In response to reports of Hong Kong residents being lured to Southeast Asia and forced into illegal labor, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced that the Security Bureau has dispatched a special task force to Thailand.
This move is to address the issue of 28 Hong Kong residents being stranded overseas since mid-2024, with only 16 having successfully returned to Hong Kong.
The team, led by Deputy Secretary for Security Joe Cheuk, held a three-hour meeting with Tatchai Pitaneelaboot, the Chief of the Royal Thai Police, and other officials from crime prevention departments.
The meeting focused on strategies for joint investigations and assisting the 12 victims who are still detained. The team also visited the local Tourist Police Bureau and the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports to discuss measures to enhance tourist safety.
Chief Executive John Lee stated, "The government places great importance on the rescue of Hong Kong residents and will make every effort to bring them home." He added that the Thai police also take this matter very seriously and have promised to work closely with Hong Kong authorities.
Thai officials also emphasized recent efforts to enhance tourist safety, including the establishment of the "Tourist Safety Operation Center" (TCOC), which coordinates police forces nationwide and has launched a mobile app called "Thailand Tourist Police" that allows tourists to report emergencies, send their location, and receive multilingual (including Chinese) assistance 24 hours a day.
The Director of the Hong Kong Security Bureau, Dennis Tang, stated that the ultimate goal of the Hong Kong government is to safely return all affected individuals to Hong Kong as soon as possible. He noted, "We are tirelessly working to ensure their safe return home."
Additionally, Thailand and China have joined forces to combat call center scams, human trafficking, and transnational crime, focusing on those who have been deceived and lured to neighboring countries.
A meeting was held at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok, where senior officials from both countries exchanged views on cooperation in combating crime.
