Why has the US government put Hong Kong on its human trafficking watchlist?

October 27, 2025

Hong Kong's government has rejected the US State Department's placement of Hong Kong on its Tier 2 human trafficking watchlist in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. Despite being a designated transit point for human trafficking since 2015, Hong Kong maintains it has adequate laws to combat trafficking without adopting the UN's Palermo Protocol. The US report criticizes Hong Kong for identifying only eight victims out of 11,300 potential cases in 2024, failing to prosecute suspected traffickers appropriately, and maintaining visa policies that make foreign domestic workers vulnerable to exploitation.

Who is affected

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong
Mainland Chinese workers transiting through Hong Kong to overseas jobs
Hong Kong residents lured to Southeast Asia under false employment schemes
Potential victims of human trafficking (particularly those involved in prostitution)
NGOs that previously provided assistance to trafficking victims
Law enforcement and government agencies responsible for identifying and protecting trafficking victims

What action is being taken

The Hong Kong government is publicly opposing the US State Department's rating
Hong Kong police are conducting raids on prostitution establishments (102 raids in 2024)
The Hong Kong government is enforcing existing laws through various ordinances rather than adopting the Palermo Protocol
Hong Kong authorities are using human trafficking indicators to screen potential victims, though with limited results
The government is maintaining its current visa policies for foreign domestic workers despite criticism

Why it matters

This dispute highlights gaps in Hong Kong's approach to human trafficking compared to international standards. The US report reveals critical shortcomings in victim identification (only 8 identified from 11,300 potential cases), prosecution practices, and protection mechanisms. The situation of foreign domestic workers is particularly concerning as current policies may increase their vulnerability to exploitation. Additionally, the decline in NGO support following the National Security Law implementation has reduced available assistance for trafficking victims, potentially allowing more cases to go undetected and unaddressed.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices