The Immigration Department today expressed regret over a misleading commentary published by Ming Pao yesterday on the department's handling of the screening of trafficking in persons (TIP) cases.

The department stressed that it attaches great importance to the fight against TIP and has all along been conducting TIP initial screening with vulnerable people who are arrested or who put themselves forward to the authorities, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, by adopting the same standard and definition as stipulated in the Palermo Protocol.

If there is any TIP indicator revealed during the initial screening, its officers will conduct a full investigation and identification process to ascertain the presence of TIP elements.

Identified victims will be provided with appropriate protection and support.

In response to the commentary stating that TIP screening on detainees at Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre has not been conducted, the department pointed out that the centre is actually a detention centre for those awaiting deportation/removal or claimants awaiting final determination of their torture claims.

The majority of detainees are people previously arrested for immigration offences and those pending deportation/removal to their country of origin. The department had earlier conducted TIP initial screening arrangements on them in accordance with the mechanisms.

It has all along strictly followed the established detention policies, and in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and legal principles established by the court.

According to the prevailing detention policies, while determining whether an individual should be detained, the department will consider all the facts and circumstances of a particular case. The mere presence of a particular factor does not automatically lead to detention or release. The factors listed in the detention policies are not meant to be exhaustive or in any order of priority or weight.

The department added that it will conduct regular and timely review of each detention case in accordance with the prevailing mechanisms.