Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HONGKONG2360
2007-09-11 10:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:  

MACAU GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO COMBAT

Tags:  KCRM SMIG SOCI PGOV PHUM HK CH MC MG 
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PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHHK #2360 2541035
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111035Z SEP 07
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2880
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 002360 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2032
TAGS: KCRM SMIG SOCI PGOV PHUM HK CH MC MG
SUBJECT: MACAU GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO COMBAT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING

REF: HONG KONG 01866

Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 002360

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2032
TAGS: KCRM SMIG SOCI PGOV PHUM HK CH MC MG
SUBJECT: MACAU GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO COMBAT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING

REF: HONG KONG 01866

Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) The Macau government, clearly making good on some of
the commitments expressed by Chief Executive (CE) Ho to G/TIP
director Ambassador Lagon in June (reftel),gazetted a
directive yesterday to set up a "concern committee" on
deterring human trafficking. The committee will consist of
up to 12 representatives from the Security, Administration
and Justice, and Social Affairs and Culture departments, all
of whom are to be chosen within the next two weeks and
submitted to Cheong Kwoc Va, the Secretary for Security. The
Secretariat for Security is responsible for leading the

SIPDIS
committee, but the CE directed that all government
departments should cooperate with the committee's activities.


2. (U) According to the government gazette (similar to the
U.S. Federal Register),the committee is responsible for: (1)
studying and assessing TIP-related social problems, and (2)
suggesting and supervising each department's efforts to
combat human trafficking. The committee aims to coordinate
and assist the development of measures to prevent trafficking
and protect victims, as well as to assist victims to
reintegrate into society. The directive also tasks the
committee to promote international and regional cooperation
in the fight against trafficking. Finally, the directive
calls for a comprehensive review of trafficking-related laws
in Macau, matching them with international standards.


3. (SBU) An article in the English-language "Macau Daily
Post" on September 11, 2007, asserted that "the setting up of
the committee comes after persistent complaints by U.S.
authorities that the local (Macau) authorities have not done
enough to prevent and fight human trafficking in the area of
prostitution."


4. (C) Comment: The public and private statements of Macau
Chief Executive Edmund Ho at the time of the G/TIP director's
June visit represented an apparent sea change in the Macau
government's recognition of the need to take action against
TIP. This gazetted instruction now provides strong evidence
of concrete follow-through in Macau and represents a very
significant success in our anti-TIP efforts there. We expect
that Macau -- after a decent interval -- will announce
changes to its laws against trafficking, which we know have
been under review for some months. The establishment of this
anti-TIP committee opens the door for increased USG
engagement there; post officers are now planning trips to
Macau to determine the details of the Macau government's
plans.
Cunningham