The Security Bureau said a Hong Kong resident earlier detained for illegal work in Myanmar was rescued and transferred to Thailand yesterday, and will return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.

The bureau's dedicated task force received a request for assistance earlier.

The bureau immediately liaised with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok (Bangkok ETO), as well as the relevant Thai authorities, and launched a joint rescue operation promptly.

Representatives of the Hong Kong SAR Government arrived in Thailand yesterday to follow up on the incident.

Yesterday, the dedicated task force arranged for the Hong Kong resident to meet his family in Thailand once he was in good mental and physical condition.

The Hong Kong resident said he felt like he was experiencing a horror movie in the past few days and thanked the task force members for visiting Thailand to save him from detention.

Pleased with the reunion, his family members commended the speedy and effective rescue mission.

The dedicated task force members will make arrangements for the Hong Kong resident’s return to the city as soon as possible, and will continue to follow up on investigating his case.

While in Thailand, the dedicated task force met the Commander of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Central Investigation Bureau of Royal Thai Police, to discuss the support arrangements for the Hong Kong resident after his rescue.

The dedicated task force also met personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand to thank them for their continued efforts on the case, as well as their appropriate and practicable assistance for the individual and his family.

In addition, the dedicated task force had a meeting with officials of the Bangkok ETO to learn about the latest local situation.

The bureau thanked various parties including the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Bangkok ETO, as well as the relevant Thai authorities, for their support and assistance, resulting in a prompt and smooth operation.

Since 2024 to date, law enforcement agencies have received a total of 32 request-for-assistance cases in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave.

Apart from the above-mentioned case, 28 of them have already returned to Hong Kong and two needed no further assistance and follow-up.

The bureau stressed that its dedicated task force will continue to actively follow up on the remaining request-for-assistance case and provide appropriate advice and practicable assistance to the assistance seeker and their family.