The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, speaks to reporters.
The Government strongly disagrees with the analysis on Macao contained in the “2016 Trafficking in Persons Report” by the Department of State in the United States, said today the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak. The report contained serious misunderstandings and based on misinterpretation of the figures with regard to the situation in Macao. Findings in the report were not based on fact, involved groundless speculation and failed to provide appropriate verification, he told reporters. The Government had done a large amount of work over the years in order to prevent human trafficking in Macao. The Committee on Measures to Deter Human Trafficking had made significant efforts to coordinate Macao’s security resources in order to prevent such crimes in Macao. Such efforts had produced positive results. He noted that an investigation – concerning the only case in 2014 relating to human trafficking – was ended due to insufficient evidence. Police also ended investigation of two of the three cases in 2015 for the same reason. The other case from 2015 was still under investigation. Regarding the “recommendations” for Macao mentioned in the report, Mr Wong said the Government had initiated – without any prior suggestion from any third party – optimisation in policies against human trafficking. Such efforts had been followed up and discussed in monthly meetings of the Committee on Measures to Deter Human Trafficking. The Secretary said prostitution, controlled prostitution, and trafficking in persons were three distinct issues. Prostitution occurred around the world, not just in Macao, he added.