Response to the Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State
28-06-2017

The U.S. Department of State released the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report (“the Report”) and ranked the Macao SAR Tier 2 Watch List. The Office of the Secretary for Security responds to the ranking and its relevant narrative as the following:

The Macao SAR Government has always been earnestly upholding the “One country, two systems” policy and ensuring the high autonomy after the handover. The government is determined to combat the trafficking in persons crime and has put together relentless efforts in the course. By means of setting up the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee and enacting the Law 6/2008 (Combat the Crime of Trafficking in Persons), the government has been following international standards to proactively and practically launch its preventive and combat measures, protecting the victims and establishing partnership with NGOs. Investigations for the said crime have also been effectively carried out under the supervision of the judicial authorities. Successful outcome is witnessed through the joint effort by the government and the walks of life. The constant decline, low or zero incidence of human trafficking crime should be considered as positive result of the effective execution of related works.

The Report, however, continuously ignored objective facts and mistook the situation in Macao by giving wrong interpretations, false deductions and unreasonable speculations for years. This is especially seen by the false accusations about the labour exploitation, child sex tourism and the absence of the reporting of government official complicity which are carelessly commented and without any evidential ground. The security authority finds it terribly unjust, refuses to accept and strongly disagrees with it.

For years, the Macao SAR government has been furnishing the legal infrastructure, law enforcement, promotion campaigns, education and support together with different organizations and stake holders. Purpose of which is to enhance awareness for the prevention of the human trafficking crime among the Macao population and different ethnic groups. It is also the government’s objective to protect the legitimate rights of local and foreign employees, as well as preserving the integrity of all civil workers.

Therefore, the security authority reiterates that all kinds of criminal activities and exploitations related to trafficking in persons will not be tolerated. It will proactively collaborate with the judicial authorities to carry out necessary preventive and investigative works and adopts proper measures according to the objective situations. Furthermore, the security authority will constantly fulfill its official role to enhance the close partnership with international organizations, neighbour countries and regions by using the appropriate channels to share intelligence and thus to work together to prevent and combat all kinds of human trafficking related crimes.

Office of the Secretary for Security

Back>