Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Hong Kong woman rescued from Myanmar scam farm
The story on this page has some tougher vocabulary words and questions to improve your understanding and English grammar.
A Hong Kong woman has been rescued from a scam farm in Myanmar, marking the latest success in efforts to repatriate victims of human trafficking. Photo: DKBAContent provided by British Council
[1] A Hong Kong woman was rescued from a scam farm in Myanmar. The city’s Security Bureau confirmed her rescue on February 2, soon after Thai media reported the same. She was found on the Myanmar side of the border near Thailand’s Tak province. She returned to Hong Kong two days later on a flight from Bangkok with members of a special task force from the bureau.
[2] The woman was believed to have been a victim of human trafficking linked to a Chinese scam operation in Myanmar. The rescue operation was reportedly conducted by Thailand’s army and police. They were alerted by the country’s counter-narcotics authorities that the woman was attempting to cross the border into Thailand.
[3] Hong Kong authorities are working with Thai officials to help city residents trapped in Myanmar. These victims are believed to have been tricked into going to Southeast Asian countries and forced to work in call centres that scam others. Some Hong Kong residents have safely returned home in recent weeks.
[4] Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, the Undersecretary for Security, led a six-member team from the Security Bureau, police, and Immigration Department on a two-day trip to Bangkok in January. They met with Thai officials and representatives from the Chinese embassy to discuss Hong Kong victims who have been tricked by scam centres in Myanmar.
[5] Two other people from Hong Kong have been freed after the trip. This includes a 29-year-old man who returned home on January 27. He was accompanied by members of a government task force that helps residents stuck in Southeast Asia.
[6] A 25-year-old man returned on January 16, three months after he was tricked into going to Thailand by an online job ad. The ad promised HK$120,000 for transporting diamonds to Taiwan. After arriving in Thailand, he was taken across the border to a scam centre in Myanmar. Hong Kong police said his family was asked to pay US$30,000 (HK$233,621) for his release. The police did not say whether the money was paid.
[7] Thai police arrested a mainland Chinese woman earlier this month. She was suspected of recruiting foreigners for illegal businesses and human trafficking. A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for the suspect in December last year for helping others cross the border into Myanmar illegally.
Source: South China Morning Post, February 2
Questions
1. In paragraph 2, the woman was trying to … when she was found.
A. get the army and police’s attention
B. cross the border into Thailand
C. get inside Myanmar
D. none of the above
2. How did the Hongkongers mentioned in paragraph 3 become victims?
3. Which word can replace “tricked” in paragraph 4?
A. distracted
B. confused
C. misjudged
D. deceived
4. What did the job posting mentioned in paragraph 6 promise?
5. According to paragraph 7, what two things was the woman suspected of doing? (2 marks)
6. Decide whether the following statements are written in the active or passive voice. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (3 marks)
(i) Authorities recently rescued a Hong Kong woman from a scam farm in Myanmar. (ii) Thailand’s army and police reportedly carried out the rescue operation.
(iii) Other victims, similar to the woman, are believed to have been lured to Southeast Asian countries.
Answers
1. B
2. They were tricked into going to Southeast Asian countries
3. D
4. HK$120,000 for transporting diamonds to Taiwan
5. recruiting foreigners into working for unauthorised businesses and engaging in human trafficking
6. (i) active; (ii) active; (iii) passive