Hong Kong Resident Detained for Illegal Work in Southeast Asian Country Rescued

Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Southeast Asian country rescued

The Security Bureau (SB) today (March 28) said that after the SB dedicated task force received a request for assistance from a Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Myanmar earlier, the SB 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 and Trade Office in Bangkok (Bangkok ETO), as well as the relevant Thai authorities, and launched a joint rescue operation promptly. The SB's Government Security Officer, Mr Joe Chan, also immediately led the dedicated task force comprising members from the SB, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department to arrive in Thailand yesterday (March 27) to follow up on the incident.

The Hong Kong resident was rescued and transferred to Thailand yesterday. The dedicated task force arranged him to meet with his family in Thailand once he was in good mental and physical condition. The Hong Kong resident said he felt like 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 family reunion, the family members said they had learnt a precious lesson and commended the speedy and effective rescue mission. The dedicated task force members will make arrangements for his return to Hong Kong as soon as possible, and will continue to follow up to investigate his case after his return.

While in Thailand, the dedicated task force met with the Commander of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Central Investigation Bureau of Royal Thai Police, Police Major General Vitthaya Sripasertpap, to discuss the support arrangement for the Hong Kong resident after his rescue. The dedicated task force also met with personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand to thank 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 SB expressed gratitude to various parties including 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 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, the 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 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 the family.

The Security Bureau (SB) today (March 28) said a Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Myanmar sought assistance from the SB dedicated task force earlier. Following the liaison with various parties and with their support and assistance, a joint rescue operation was launched and the Hong Kong resident was smoothly rescued and arrived in Thailand. Photo shows the dedicated task force meeting with Commander of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Central Investigation Bureau of Royal Thai Police, Police Major General Vitthaya Sripasertpap (fourth right), to discuss the support for the Hong Kong resident after rescue. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Security Bureau (SB) today (March 28) said a Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Myanmar sought assistance from the SB dedicated task force earlier. Following the liaison with various parties and with their support and assistance, a joint rescue operation was launched and the Hong Kong resident was smoothly rescued and arrived in Thailand. Photo shows the dedicated task force meeting with officials of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok to learn about the latest local situation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Security Bureau (SB) today (March 28) said a Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Myanmar sought assistance from the SB dedicated task force earlier. Following the liaison with various parties and with their support and assistance, a joint rescue operation was launched and the Hong Kong resident was smoothly rescued and arrived in Thailand. Photo shows the rescued Hong Kong resident (second left) with his family in Thailand. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Security Bureau (SB) today (March 28) said a Hong Kong resident detained for illegal work in Myanmar sought assistance from the SB dedicated task force earlier. Following the liaison with various parties and with their support and assistance, a joint rescue operation was launched and the Hong Kong resident was smoothly rescued and arrived in Thailand. Photo shows the rescued Hong Kong resident (fifth left) with his family in Thailand. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB announces notification arrangements on Secondary One discretionary places and distribution of school choice documents for Central Allocation

Parents of Primary Six students participating in the current (2026) cycle of the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System who have made applications at the discretionary places (DP) stage will receive notifications tomorrow (March 31) from the secondary schools they have applied for if their children have been selected as successful applicants. Students who have not been notified as successful DP applicants can participate in the Central Allocation (CA), the Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (March 30).

Digitalisation of SSPA

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The EDB encourages parents to register with "iAM Smart+" as early as possible and activate their SSPA e-platform (eSSPA) (esspa.edb.gov.hk) account using "iAM Smart+" for more convenient and faster electronic services throughout the entire Secondary One application process. The SSPA e-Platform Parent's Guide is available on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/secondary-spa/general-info/sspa_eplatform_parents_guide.html) with a series of videos to introduce the procedures for submitting CA applications via the eSSPA.

Notification arrangements for successful DP applicants

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Under the notification arrangements for successful DP applicants, if students are included by participating secondary schools in their Successful Lists for Discretionary Places, their parents will receive notifications from the secondary schools concerned on March 31. Parents who have registered as eSSPA users with "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" may also view notifications for successful DP applicants via the eSSPA starting from 10am on the same day. Parents do not need to reply to the secondary schools whether they will accept the DP offers or not.

Parents of successful DP applicants who have also successfully applied for a school place in a non-participating Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) secondary school should decide between the two options. If the parents decide to accept the offer from the non-participating DSS secondary schools, they should disregard the notifications from the secondary schools which have selected their children at the DP stage. Their children will be allocated to the DSS secondary school concerned according to the established mechanism. If the parents decide to decline the offer from the non-participating DSS secondary schools, they should notify the DSS secondary schools concerned and retrieve the originals of the signed Parent's Undertaking and the Primary 6 Student Record Form on or before April 10 in order to retain the school place successfully applied for at the DP stage.

Distribution of school choice documents for CA

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Parents who have registered as eSSPA users and bound their account to "iAM Smart+" may browse choice-making information and documents, submit CA applications and view allocation results via the eSSPA.

Primary schools participating in the SSPA System have been informed to collect copies of choice-making documents on April 9. Parents of Primary Six students participating in the SSPA will each receive from their children's primary schools the following documents:

the Secondary School List (SSL) of the respective school net (with the latest version available online); and

the Secondary One Choice of Schools Form (Choice Form) (only for parents who have not submitted DP applications on the eSSPA).

To cater for the needs of different parents, the EDB will distribute paper Choice Forms through primary schools to parents who have not submitted DP applications on the eSSPA. If parents have submitted DP applications via the eSSPA, they are required to continue using the e-platform to submit their CA applications. Parents may borrow the Handbook for Unrestricted School Choices for reference from primary schools or obtain the latest version of the Handbook through the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk) and the fax service of the EDB's 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry system on 28910088.

Filling in CA Choice Form

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Both the electronic and paper Choice Forms are divided into two parts (Part A and Part B). Parents should refer to the Handbook with information on secondary schools in all districts when filling in Part A "Unrestricted School Choices" of the Choice Form and choose not more than three secondary schools from any school net, including the student's school net. As for Part B "Restricted School Choices", parents should refer to their children's SSL of their school net to choose secondary schools according to their preference, and fill up the 30 choices as far as possible. Parents must not enter any school choices which are not in the SSL of the school net of the children in Part B since those school choices will not be processed.

The EDB reminded parents that prior to making school choices for their children, they should read carefully the Notes for Parents on Central Allocation on the EDB's website to understand in detail the SSPA System. Parents should also consider the schools in all respects, such as their educational philosophy, tradition, religion, class structure, development and operation, and their children's characteristics, personalities, abilities and interests, so as to make a suitable school choice. Parents may refer to the Secondary School Profiles 2025/2026 (www.chsc.hk/secondary) or school websites for the relevant information.

Parents must return the completed electronic or paper Choice Form to their children's primary schools for the schools' submission to the EDB on or before May 7. Parents should not submit duplicate applications via the eSSPA and in paper form to the attending primary school for the same child. Should individual parents have genuine difficulties in returning the duly completed Choice Form to their children's primary schools in person or through an authorised representative, he or she should contact the primary schools in advance for appropriate arrangements.

Announcement of allocation results for SSPA

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The results for SSPA 2026 for both the DP and CA stages will be announced on July 7. Parents who have registered as eSSPA users with "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" may view the allocation results via the eSSPA starting from 10am that day. Parents wishing to receive the result of their children via SMS message on that day should provide a mobile phone number on the electronic or paper Choice Form to indicate their consent to receive the SMS message of the result at that phone number. Parents may refer to the Notes for Parents for more information.

Parents who have questions in completing the Choice Form are advised to consult their children's primary schools. Relevant information about the SSPA System and some frequently asked questions will be uploaded to the EDB's website on April 9 for parents' reference. Further enquiries may also be directed to the School Places Allocation Section (SSPA) of the EDB (Tel: 28327740 and 28327700).

Source: AI-found images