The Security Bureau welcomes the US Department of State' Trafficking in Persons Report, which hails Hong Kong's robust anti-trafficking measures and full compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Hong Kong has been placed on Tier 1 since the report was first published in 2001. This year's report recognises Hong Kong ongiong efforts to take effective measures in terms of enforcement, prosecution, prevention and protection of victims.

Human trafficking is a transnational crime.The bureau will continue to be vigilant and co-operate with regional and overseas law-enforcement partners to curb migrant trafficking activities.

Hong Kong is a convenient and busy air and sea transport hub, with about 10 million transittees passing through the airport each year. While the city is more vulnerable to migrant trafficking activities, Hong Kong is not the base of operation for such illegal activities.

Moreover, Hong Kong is not a destination for human trafficking, nor a place of origin for exporting illegal migrants. Over the years, cases of trafficking detected have been rare, with only three trafficking-related cases reported last year.