The Immigration Department said it will follow up on five cases of Hong Kong residents reported missing in Southeast Asia by their families.

The department said on Wednesday it had received 17 requests for assistance since January from families of Hong Kong residents reported missing in the region, and 12 of them have since left Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia or Laos safely.

Officials were responding to media reports that a number of Hongkongers had been scammed and trafficked to Southeast Asian countries for forced labour.

Immigration officials said they will maintain close contact with the family members, Hong Kong police as well as local Chinese embassies or consulates on the way forward.

Meanwhile, the police said they have received 12 cases so far this year involving Hong Kong people who said they were held against their will overseas after allegedly falling prey to job or online romance scams.

A police spokesman said they will liaise with Interpol and overseas law enforcement agencies in their investigation.
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Last updated: 2022-08-17 HKT 17:31