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SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Raise alert on risk of Asian cross-border scams

Regional cooperation has been key to securing the release of 25 out of 28 Hongkongers detained in Southeast Asian fraud farms

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The last of the six Hong Kong residents rescued from a scam farm in Myanmar have been returned to the city. Photo: Facebook/Security Bureau

Regional cooperation is key to combating the rapid growth of phone fraud and organised cross-border crime. Evidence of that includes the recent rescue of six Hongkongers from a forced-labour scam farm in Myanmar.

Twenty-five of 28 Hongkongers detained in Southeast Asian countries in scams since 2024 have now been released.

These and other rescues are testament to the joint efforts of government officials and police from the mainland, Thailand and Myanmar, as well as Hong Kong, in freeing detainees.

The Security Bureau has pledged to save the three Hong Kong residents still on its case list as soon as possible.

In January, local authorities set up a six-member task force of security, police and immigration officials, with a direct line of communication to Thai authorities in Bangkok.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung flew to Thailand to help coordinate rescue work, announcing last week that the latest group of six had been freed.

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