Hong Kong’s human-trafficking problem is focus at conference

Hong Kong’s human-trafficking problems took centre stage at the SAR’s only conference dedicated to addressing the issue, targeting students in the hope of breeding a generation informed of the city’s role in the global business of buying and selling people.

Around 300 people attended the conference held in the International Christian Assembly in North Point, as frontline workers and campaigners shared experiences and information on human-
trafficking and forced labour.

The message was clear – it is close to home, as one of the invited speakers, Mekong Club chief executive officer Matthew Friedman, said that Hong Kong is a transit hub for sex trafficking and forced labour.

“I was surprised about how little people knew about this issue here. Once they do it will be different,” said Friedman.

The conference is part of an initiative, named 852 Freedom Campaign, with an aim to mobilise one million individuals to “play an active role in fighting human slavery by using their skills and abilities to raise awareness, funding and new initiatives”. It was launched in 2014.

READ MORE: Human trafficking in Hong Kong: hidden in plain sight

The government had denied the city’s role in the global trafficking ring, saying in July that there was “no sign or evidence” that Hong Kong was a hub.