45 arrested in major anti-vice crackdown in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s disciplined services have arrested 43 women and two men on suspicion of being illegal sex workers and engaging in unlawful employment, with some found to be providing unlicensed massage services, condoms and lubricants.

Police said on Monday that a three-week, cross-departmental operation, conducted from May 14 to 30 in Tsuen Wan, targeted illegal sex workers and those who facilitated their activities, including individuals providing premises and equipment.

The operation led to raids on multiple suspected illegal vice establishments and intensified efforts against those violating their conditions of stay. In total, 43 local and mainland Chinese women, aged between 25 and 59, and two local men, aged between 47 and 55, were arrested.

“These illegal establishments are often located very close to residential areas, causing significant disturbance to residents,” said Heung Tsz-kin, Tsuen Wan district operations officer.

He added that the operation aimed to combat three main types of crime: individuals renting units to solicit clients in public, those violating their conditions of stay by providing illegal services, and people offering illegal massages and sex services under the guise of being masseuses.

Senior Inspector Lin Hiu-mei of Tsuen Wan district’s special duty squad said the force broadened its crackdown to also target landlords, property owners and intermediaries who facilitate illegal activities.