Government action in relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism
Dear Security Bureau,
With particular reference to the ‘Action Plan to Tackle Trafficking in Persons and to Enhance Protection of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong (March 2018)’ and the information herein (https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/bound/...), I seek the following data on screenings, identifications, investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement actions carried out by the Government in relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively:-
1. The number of persons (including their nationality and VISA status) who have undergone 1st Tier Screening:
(i) upon arrest (e.g. without putting themselves forward to the authorities as potential TIP victims);
(ii) upon putting themselves forward to the authorities as potential TIP victims; and
(iii) on any other bases (e.g. as part of early identification of potential TIP victims and exploitation of foreign domestic helpers by the authorities responsible for post-entry immigration control as set out on p. 613 https://www.budget.gov.hk/2020/eng/pdf/h...).
2. The number of persons who have undergone 2nd Tier Screening after 1st Tier Screening.
3. The number of persons identified as a TIP victim after screening.
4. The number of investigations commenced against perpetrators after identification of TIP victims.
5. The number of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions made against perpetrators after identification of TIP victims/investigations and the respective offences underlying any such arrests, prosecutions, and convictions.
6. The number of enforcement actions taken against perpetrators after identification of TIP victims/investigations and the respective offences underlying any such enforcement actions.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Yeung
Dear Charlie,
Your application for Access to Information has been received. The
application is now under processing. We will get back to you as soon as
possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Oliver Lam
(for Secretary for Security)
Tel: 2810 2327
From: Charlie Yeung <[FOI #468 email]>
To: FOI requests at Security Bureau <[Security Bureau request email]>,
Date: 27/04/2020 15:15
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Government action in
relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of
Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Security Bureau,
With particular reference to the ‘Action Plan to Tackle Trafficking in
Persons and to Enhance Protection of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong
(March 2018)’ and the information herein
([1]https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/bound/...), I seek the
following data on screenings, identifications, investigations,
prosecutions, and enforcement actions carried out by the Government in
relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of
Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism in 2018,
2019, and 2020 respectively:-
1. The number of persons (including their nationality and VISA status) who
have undergone 1st Tier Screening:
(i) upon arrest (e.g. without putting themselves forward to the
authorities as potential TIP victims);
(ii) upon putting themselves forward to the authorities as potential TIP
victims; and
(iii) on any other bases (e.g. as part of early identification of
potential TIP victims and exploitation of foreign domestic helpers by the
authorities responsible for post-entry immigration control as set out on
p. 613 [2]https://www.budget.gov.hk/2020/eng/pdf/h...).
2. The number of persons who have undergone 2nd Tier Screening after 1st
Tier Screening.
3. The number of persons identified as a TIP victim after screening.
4. The number of investigations commenced against perpetrators after
identification of TIP victims.
5. The number of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions made against
perpetrators after identification of TIP victims/investigations and the
respective offences underlying any such arrests, prosecutions, and
convictions.
6. The number of enforcement actions taken against perpetrators after
identification of TIP victims/investigations and the respective offences
underlying any such enforcement actions.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Yeung
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #468 email]
Is [Security Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Security Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/bound/...
2. https://www.budget.gov.hk/2020/eng/pdf/h...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
4. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
Dear Charlie,
The number of victim screenings conducted and victims identified are
tabulated as follows -
2018 2019 2020
(Jan to Mar)
Number of initial screenings conducted 7 554 7 576 1 706
Number of full debriefings conducted 110 93 31
Number of TIP victims identified 18 3 1
We do not have the statistical breakdown of other figures requested.
From January 2018 to March 2020, a total of 17 persons were investigated/
arrested by law enforcement agencies. Among them, one was under legal
proceeding, one was pending charging formalities, seven were pending legal
advice and one was prosecuted and convicted of the offence aiding,
abetting, counselling or procuring the breach of condition of stay.
Yours sincerely,
Oliver Lam
(for Secretary for Security)
Tel: 2810 2327
From: SB-AIOREQ/SB/HKSARG
To: Charlie Yeung <[FOI #468 email]>,
Date: 06/05/2020 16:36
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Government action in
relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of
Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Charlie,
Your application for Access to Information has been received. The
application is now under processing. We will get back to you as soon as
possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Oliver Lam
(for Secretary for Security)
Tel: 2810 2327
From: Charlie Yeung <[FOI #468 email]>
To: FOI requests at Security Bureau <[Security Bureau request email]>,
Date: 27/04/2020 15:15
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Government action in
relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of
Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Security Bureau,
With particular reference to the ‘Action Plan to Tackle Trafficking in
Persons and to Enhance Protection of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong
(March 2018)’ and the information herein
([1]https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/bound/...), I seek the
following data on screenings, identifications, investigations,
prosecutions, and enforcement actions carried out by the Government in
relation to suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons and exploitation of
Foreign Domestic Helpers under the TIP victim screening mechanism in 2018,
2019, and 2020 respectively:-
1. The number of persons (including their nationality and VISA status) who
have undergone 1st Tier Screening:
(i) upon arrest (e.g. without putting themselves forward to the
authorities as potential TIP victims);
(ii) upon putting themselves forward to the authorities as potential TIP
victims; and
(iii) on any other bases (e.g. as part of early identification of
potential TIP victims and exploitation of foreign domestic helpers by the
authorities responsible for post-entry immigration control as set out on
p. 613 [2]https://www.budget.gov.hk/2020/eng/pdf/h...).
2. The number of persons who have undergone 2nd Tier Screening after 1st
Tier Screening.
3. The number of persons identified as a TIP victim after screening.
4. The number of investigations commenced against perpetrators after
identification of TIP victims.
5. The number of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions made against
perpetrators after identification of TIP victims/investigations and the
respective offences underlying any such arrests, prosecutions, and
convictions.
6. The number of enforcement actions taken against perpetrators after
identification of TIP victims/investigations and the respective offences
underlying any such enforcement actions.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Yeung
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #468 email]
Is [Security Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Security Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/special/bound/...
2. https://www.budget.gov.hk/2020/eng/pdf/h...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
4. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
