Why Hong Kong Remains on the US Human Trafficking Watchlist

• The US State Department placed Hong Kong on its Tier 2 watchlist in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.
• The Hong Kong government dismissed the report as unfounded and intended to smear the city's reputation.
• Disagreements center on Hong Kong's refusal to sign the UN Palermo Protocol and concerns over legal frameworks protecting forced labor victims.

Background and Context

• The UN previously designated Hong Kong International Airport as a transit point for human trafficking, linked to laborers traveling through the city under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• Hong Kong has not signed the 2000 Palermo Protocol, which mandates specific anti-trafficking measures, victim protection, and legal prosecution standards.
• Hong Kong authorities argue that existing local laws, such as the Crimes Ordinance and Immigration Ordinance, adequately cover human trafficking offenses.

Judicial Challenges

• Past judicial reviews (e.g., cases involving domestic workers ZN and CB) highlighted significant gaps in the government's legal framework for identifying and protecting victims of forced labor.
• While some courts acknowledged investigative failures by authorities, they remained divided on whether existing laws are sufficient to satisfy international human trafficking standards.

2024 Findings and Recommendations

• Only eight victims were identified in 2024 out of 11,300 potential cases, drawing criticism regarding the effectiveness of Hong Kong’s screening mechanisms.
• The US report noted that visa policies restricting "job hopping" leave foreign domestic workers more vulnerable to exploitation.
• The disbandment of many NGOs following the enactment of the National Security Law has further reduced support avenues for victims.
• The US recommends that Hong Kong police investigate prostitution cases as potential trafficking offenses, exempt victims from criminal liability to dismantle syndicates, and reform visa policies to allow migrant workers more freedom.