Hong Kong Government Issues Statement Rejecting Tier 3 Ranking in US Trafficking in Persons Report 2026, Citing Screening Figures
HONG KONG — The US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report 2026 has placed Hong Kong in Tier 3. The Hong Kong SAR Government issued a statement on October 9 saying it strongly opposes and rejects the rating and the report's characterisation of Hong Kong's anti-trafficking efforts, calling the Tier 3 rating unfounded. The two sides describe the situation differently; the following sets out the published facts and positions of each.
The report ranks economies by their anti-trafficking efforts, with Tier 3 the lowest tier, and — as the Government statement notes — has repeatedly urged Hong Kong to enact dedicated trafficking legislation. In its statement, the HKSAR Government said trafficking in persons has never been prevalent in Hong Kong and that there has never been any sign the city is used by syndicates as a destination or transit point for trafficking.
Figures cited in the Government statement include about 12,100 initial screenings conducted over the past year — a 7% increase on the year before — covering people who came to the attention of relevant departments and were vulnerable to trafficking risks, including illegal immigrants, sex workers, illegal workers, foreign domestic helpers, imported workers and other suspected victims. Fifteen trafficking victims were identified. According to the statement, all 15 were Hong Kong residents involved in employment fraud cases in Southeast Asian countries; the Government said it acted to return them to Hong Kong, investigated their cases and prosecuted those implicated.
On the legal framework, the Government said Hong Kong's current framework comprises over 50 legal provisions against various trafficking conduct, providing safeguards comparable to dedicated trafficking laws in some jurisdictions, and argued that every jurisdiction should have latitude to determine the best framework, with no one-size-fits-all solution. It added that it has long adopted a proactive, multi-pronged strategy, injecting substantial resources into combating trafficking and enhancing protection for foreign domestic helpers.
The trafficking report is an annual US State Department assessment, and the HKSAR Government has objected to its Hong Kong ratings in previous years. The October 9 statement did not mention any follow-up arrangements between the two sides.
Source: Compiled from the HKSAR Government statement published by the Hong Kong Government news service on October 9, 2026; the statement reflects the Government's position, and the rating referred to is from the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report 2026.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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