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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (May 25):
Question:
As at the end of last year, there were more than 341 000 foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong. Regarding the situation of FDHs who were reported missing in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of cases of foreign domestic helper (FDH) reported missing which were received by the authorities in the past three years, with a breakdown by the nationality of the missing FDHs; among such FDHs, the number of those who were subsequently found;
(2) how the authorities investigated and followed up the cases of FDH reported missing mentioned in (1), and whether they made enquiries with the relevant consulates; and
(3) whether it has investigated if human trafficking was involved in those cases of FDH reported missing; if it has investigated and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the policies and legislation in place to prevent FDHs from falling victim to human trafficking activities; if the investigation outcome is in the negative, the reasons for their disappearance?
Reply:
President,
The Government's reply to the Hon Emily Lau's questions is as follows:
(1) The number of cases of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) reported missing to the Police in the past three years is as follows:
Year Number of cases of FDHs reported missing
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2013 301
2014 209
2015 131
With the exception of one case, which is still under investigation, all of the cases were closed, either because the alleged missing FDHs were located by the Police or nothing suspicious was identified upon investigation. The Police do not maintain statistical breakdown by the nationality of the missing FDHs.
(2) and (3) The Police attach great importance to every case of missing person and will spare no effort in investigation. Upon receiving a report of missing person, the Police will dispatch officers to the last location where the alleged missing person was known to have been to as well as places where the missing person usually goes to in accordance with the information provided by the informant to conduct searching. The Police will also look for clues from various sources, including closed-circuit television footage etc., and contact people that the missing person knows so as to obtain more information about the missing person. In addition, depending on the actual circumstances, the Police will liaise with the Immigration Department, Correctional Services Department and Hospital Authority, etc. to locate the missing person. If necessary, the Police will also appeal to the public to provide information about the missing person through television programme "Police Magazine", the Police's website as well as government press releases, etc. The Police will consider whether an enquiry shall be made to the consulate concerned in the light of individual circumstances of the case.
As regards trafficking in persons (TIP), the comprehensive legislative framework of Hong Kong has already fully underpinned the robust enforcement of our law enforcement agencies. Through inter-departmental collaboration, the Government's efforts in tackling human trafficking include victim identification, enforcement and prosecution, victim protection, and international co-operation etc. Hundreds of our law-enforcing officers are trained with specialised victim identification skills and TIP knowledge yearly. The Police and the Immigration Department have in place victim identification guidelines to facilitate thorough investigation and to ensure that genuine victims are provided appropriate assistance.
The law enforcement agencies will take all trafficking reports seriously and will maintain close liaison with foreign consulates and non-governmental organisations with a view to bringing to justice human trafficking criminals.
On the other hand, to afford protection to FDHs, the Labour Department (LD) has all along been undertaking various publicity and education efforts to promote the awareness of FDHs on their rights and channels to seek redress, which include amongst others, publishing leaflets and introducing a one-stop online information platform with FDH mother-language versions. LD has also strengthened the cooperation with the consulates-general (CG) of the home countries of FDHs in Hong Kong, such as setting up a regular liaison mechanism and participating in the welcoming programme of the CGs, so as to ensure that FDHs who first come to work in Hong Kong would be aware of their statutory rights and benefits.
Ends/Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:26
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