Hong Kong rejects US Trafficking in Persons Report, emphasises protections for 380,000 foreign domestic helpers

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on 9 October issued a strongly worded rebuttal of the US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which relegated the city to the lowest Tier 3 category. A Government spokesman called the assessment “baseless” and said it ignored Hong Kong’s multi-pronged strategy to combat trafficking and safeguard migrant workers. Authorities highlighted that more than 12,100 initial screenings for potential TIP victims were conducted in 2025—up 7 per cent on the previous year—identifying 15 victims, all Hong Kong residents lured overseas by employment scams. The Immigration Department’s dedicated Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) investigation unit scrutinises visa applications, waives extension fees for victims and blacklists abusive employers. In parallel, the Labour Department carried out over 1,700 inspections of employment agencies last year and revoked or refused licences where malpractice was found. The statement underlines additional outreach measures: multilingual briefing videos, seminars run jointly with the Indonesian and Philippine consulates and a 24-hour hotline. The Government also defended the controversial ‘two-week rule’, which requires FDHs to leave Hong Kong within 14 days of contract termination, calling it essential for immigration control yet flexible for genuine abuse cases. For employers of domestic workers—many of whom are expatriates on international assignments—the clarification provides reassurance that policy continuity is expected, with no imminent changes to visa rules, live-in requirements or the Standard Employment Contract. However, agencies predict closer compliance monitoring and potentially longer processing times as immigration officers increase scrutiny of new applications. Multinationals should review employment-agency due-diligence procedures and remind staff that illegal deductions or passport retention remain criminal offences. Companies relocating staff with household employees are advised to budget additional lead time (currently four to six weeks) for new FDH visa approvals as the Government reinforces oversight.