Letters | Hong Kong must unite to prevent criminal gangs from exploiting children

Readers discuss criminal syndicates preying on children, and steps schools should take to protect pupils on trips

Reading Time:3 minutes

An anti-drug promotion truck is parked at the police headquarters in Wan Chai on April 29. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 12 Jul 2025

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Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights is outraged at the systematic targeting of children by drug and loan shark syndicates. During the summer holidays, all parties should pay more attention to the minors around us to prevent them from falling into the crime traps set for them.

This week, the Hong Kong police arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of drug trafficking after uncovering narcotics worth about HK$530,000 (US$67,515) in his Mong Kok home. A preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had been recruited through social media, and received HK$4,000 as payment for hiding the drugs.

Another report, “Police break up Hong Kong loan shark syndicate that hired teen debt collectors” (June 26), revealed that 22 people, had been arrested, including four who were under 18 years old. These students were recruited through encrypted chat groups to do frontline dirty work, like making intimidating calls to debtors and vandalising their homes with red paint. They were paid HK$500 to HK$1,000 per job.

The maximum penalty for trafficking in a dangerous drug is life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5,000,000 on indictment under Hong Kong law, while criminal intimidation and criminal damage are liable to five years’ and 10 years’ imprisonment, respectively.

Professionals often systematically use children and youth as mules in illegal activities as they tend to be less informed, less able to afford legal protection and arguably have the most to lose.