The report describes a 25-year-old Hong Kong man who travelled to Thailand after responding to an online job advertisement and was forcibly taken from Bangkok to Myanmar to work in telecoms scams. After his family reported losing contact, Hong Kong’s Security Bureau worked with Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand and Thai authorities, among others, on a rescue. A March 28 bureau release confirmed that the resident was rescued and transferred to Thailand on March 27 and, once in good mental and physical condition, was reunited with his family there.
The report says no ransom was involved and he suffered no physical injury. The bureau’s release said that, since 2024, it had received 32 requests concerning Hong Kong residents allegedly trapped in Southeast Asia: apart from this case, 28 had already returned to Hong Kong, two required no further assistance and one request remained under follow-up. Authorities would continue following the cases; the report also urged vigilance against online recruitment traps.
