Don’t fall into the hands of human traffickers

Human trafficking is a serious crime

·  Human trafficking is an act which involves the use of force, fraud or coercion on a person for the purpose of exploitation that includes sexual exploitation or forced labour.

·  Human trafficking is a serious crime in Hong Kong. Bringing a person into or taking a person out of Hong Kong for the purpose of prostitution, with or without that person’s consent, is subject to a maximum penalty for imprisonment of 10 years.

Staying Alert

·  To protect yourself, when you are making plans to work in Hong Kong, you should:

Ø  Learn the name, address and telephone number of your future employer. If possible, contact your future employer before leaving for Hong Kong to verify your offer and ask about your work, pay and living conditions.

Ø  Ensure you have obtained the necessary employment visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Visitors are not allowed to work in Hong Kong.

Ø  Read the employment contract carefully before signing.

Ø  Keep a copy of the signed contract.

Ø  Tell your family and friends of your itinerary and give them the address and telephone number in Hong Kong.

Ø  Leave your family and friends with the address and telephone number of your friends in Hong Kong, if any.

·  When arriving at Hong Kong, you should:

Ø  Keep your passport and a copy of your passport separately in safe places. Don’t give anyone your passport to look after.

Ø  Contact your family or friends and keep in touch with them.

Ø  Stay alert to avoid being kept in isolation or barred from contacting your family, friends, social circle or relevant groups.

Seeking assistance

·  If you suspect you will or have become a victim of human trafficking, call the Hong Kong Police Force at (852) 2860 8366 (Organised Crime and Triad Bureau) for assistance.

·  In an emergency, call 999 for immediate help from Police.

·  You can also get help from:

Ø  Your country’s consulate (please visit the website of the Protocol Division of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for the address and telephone number of consulate in Hong Kong http://www.protocol.gov.hk)

Ø  Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre ( CEASE Crisis Centre 24-hour Hotline: 18281 )

The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to fight human trafficking. Your reporting to Police would help us to combat such illegal activities and prevent more people from falling into their traps.

Security Bureau

March 2010