Hong Kong authorities have set up a taskforce to look into cases of residents falling for job scams in Southeast Asia, amid receiving calls for help from 20 victims – including eight still missing in Myanmar – since January.
Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said that among the 20 victims, 12 are confirmed to be safe. Ten of them have returned to Hong Kong while two are still overseas.
Authorities were currently not in contact with the remaining eight, all of whom are in Myanmar. Their freedoms are understood to be restricted.
“The taskforce will actively follow up on the cases and liaise with the victims’ relatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese embassies and consulate-generals in those countries, and Interpol,” Cheuk told reporters on Thursday.
The taskforce comprises officers from the Security Bureau, police and the Immigration Department.
News that at least 20 Hongkongers have fallen for employment scams in Southeast Asia follows reports that some 2,000 Taiwanese people, according to police estimates, have been trafficked to countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos after being lured by the promise of high-paying jobs.
Instead, they were forced to work for crime syndicates and carry out phone scams, and were made to…
