The SAR government on Friday hit out at the US State Department's latest assessment of Hong Kong in its 2023 Human Trafficking report, saying human trafficking is not prevalent here and neither is the city a major transit point for syndicates.

Although the SAR government noted that Hong Kong's rating had been adjusted upwards to Tier 2, it said remarks in the report were unsubstantiated. It said enormous resources had been put into the well-being of foreign domestic helpers and that it had conducted initial screenings of all persons vulnerable to trafficking risks; including illegal immigrants, sex workers, illegal workers, as well as helpers.

The government said the live-in rule for helpers had been in place since the 1970s and that it was linked to the policy of locals getting priority in the workforce.

The government also said Washington's claim about the lack of composite trafficking legislation in Hong Kong ignored the SAR's multi-legislation approach - thereby calling into question the credibility and objectivity of the US Report.

An SAR government spokesman said Hong Kong was a responsible member of the international community and that it would continue its firm commitment to contributing to the global efforts for this important cause.