Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Hong Kong Raises Travel Alert for Myanmar Amid Resurgence of Job Scams and Detentions in Southeast Asia

HK

Hong Kong Raises Travel Alert for Myanmar Amid Resurgence of Job Scams and Detentions in Southeast Asia
HK

HK

Hong Kong Raises Travel Alert for Myanmar Amid Resurgence of Job Scams and Detentions in Southeast Asia

2025-01-17 17:05 Last Updated At:17:18

Government raises Outbound Travel Alert for Myanmar (south-eastern regions) to Red

The Security Bureau (SB) has always attached great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. Since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence in the situation where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. In view of recent developments, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (January 17) raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) level for Myanmar (south-eastern regions) to red, while maintaining an amber OTA for the rest of the country.

A Government spokesman said, "Residents who plan to visit south-eastern regions ofMyanmar, including Myawaddy district, Hpapun district, Hpa-An district and Kawkareik district should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel there. For those who are already there, they should monitor the situation, exercise caution and attend to personal safety."

Moreover, the SB has already updated the OTA webpage regarding supplementary information for Cambodia with a view to reminding residents to exercise caution and beware of overseas job scams.

The SB will continue to closely monitor the situation in Myanmar and Cambodia. Any updates will be issued through the media, the Bureau's mobile app and the OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota). The Immigration Department (ImmD) will continue to maintain close contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions there to follow up relevant cases.

Hong Kong residents in Myanmar and Cambodia who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile Application, send message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline, submit the Online Assistance Request Form, or contact the Chinese Embassy there (consular protection hotline in Myanmar: (95) 943209657; consular protection hotline in Cambodia: (855) 023210206).

​Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) of the ImmD to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means, including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary.

Follow-up on incident of water turned red in Tuen Mun River

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Drainage Services Department (DSD) are following up on the incident that the water of Tuen Mun River was found red.

The EPD received a report at around 5pm today (February 15), stating that some water of Tuen Mun River had turned red. The EPD and the DSD immediately arranged staff to the scene for investigation.

Investigating officers found that the river water had resumed normal and was no longer red. No fish deaths were found at the scene. On-site tests also showed that the water quality indicators (including pH levels, dissolved oxygen, etc) remained normal. The EPD staff have collected water samples for further investigations.

Initial investigation revealed that there was draining pipe testing with red dye powder. The DSD had confirmed that it did not conduct any dye testing there. The EPD and the DSD will continue to follow up on the incident.

Recommended Articles