‘Complex situation’ in Myanmar poses biggest hurdle to helping trapped Hongkongers

Myanmar’s “complex situation” around its border poses the biggest challenge to Hong Kong authorities’ efforts to rescue residents tricked into working in scam farms in the country, a security official has said.

Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip also said on Wednesday that between 2023 and January this year, law enforcement authorities received 28 calls for help from Hong Kong residents trapped in Southeast Asia.

Among that figure, 19 had returned to Hong Kong, eight remained trapped in Myanmar and another was in Cambodia.

“In our previous cases, since the victims were trapped in Myanmar and Cambodia, we requested assistance from the local enforcement agencies through Interpol as well as the Chinese embassies in those countries,” he told a Legislative Council meeting.

“We did not contact Thailand at that time as the victims were not located there. But as the situation developed, we reached out to Thai authorities and received a positive response from them; therefore, we are currently working with Thailand in this regard.”

In response to a question from lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, Cheuk said Myanmar’s “complex situation” posed the biggest challenge to efforts to rescue the remaining Hongkongers.