Police have arrested a total of 11 persons in Hong Kong since 2023 for their alleged involvement in job scams that lure city residents to Southeast Asian countries and force them to commit fraud and other illegal activities, Acting Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said Wednesday.

Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Cheuk said that two persons, who were arrested in 2022 for conspiracy to defraud, have been convicted and sentenced to 36 months and 56 months in prison, respectively. Hong Kong is cracking down on the job scams after authorities noticed a resurgence in cases in the second quarter of 2024.

“In light of cases where the suspects met the victims in bars and entertainment establishments, the HKPF (Hong Kong Police Force) has also sent officers to distribute leaflets in various bar districts and entertainment establishments,” Cheuk said.

From 2023 to January 2025, law enforcement agencies received a total of 28 request-for-assistance cases from Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries, he said.

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“Among them, 19 have already returned to Hong Kong. As for the remaining nine persons, we believe that eight are in Myanmar while one is in Cambodia,” Cheuk added.

He said that, from January to June last year, the authorities received eight requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents who were allegedly detained in Myanmar.

From July to December 2024, eighteen more requests were received from Hong Kong residents in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia, Cheuk said.

Last month, two residents were victimized by the job scams in Myanmar sought assistance, he added.   

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Cheuk said the Security Bureau’s dedicated task force will continue to follow up and provide assistance to the victims and their families. Task force members again went to Thailand late last month and met with Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police Phanthana Nutchanart and other officials.

“They will continue to actively assist and follow up on all relevant request-for-assistance cases of Hong Kong residents who have yet to return, striving for their return to Hong Kong as soon as possible,” Cheuk said.

The Security Bureau earlier raised the Outbound Travel Alert level for south-eastern regions of Myanmar, including Myawaddy district, Hpapun district, Hpa-An district and Kawkareik district, to red, advising Hong Kong residents to avoid non-essential travel.

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The bureau maintained an amber OTA for the rest of the country, reminding residents to exercise caution.