On August 18, 2022, officers of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Services Department distribute leaflets at check-in service counters of the Hong Kong International Airport to remind travellers to be vigilant against employment fraud and outbound travel safety. PHOTO HKSAR HONG KONG The Security Bureau has set up a task force that coordinates law enforcement agencies'work in rescuing Hong Kong residents suspected of having been lured to Southeast Asian countries and forcibly engaged in illegal work.
The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force has taken over the investigation into such cases, according to the government.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has warned residents not to fall victim to such employment scams.
12 of them have been confirmed to be safe. Ten of them have returned to Hong Kong, the government said in a press release.
It said that the task force, consisting of representatives from the HKPF and the Immigration Department, will provide assistance to ensure the safe return of the people concerned to Hong Kong, including the quarantine arrangements in the city.
The statement said that the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau has been in close contact with enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions and is working to exchange intelligence and assistance in investigations through the INTERPOL platform.
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The government appeals to the public not to trust online recruitment advertisements or comments lightly and not to be cautious about ways to earn quick money and jobs that offer extraordinarily high remuneration with no specific requirements for academic qualifications or working experience.