SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DISMAYED ABOUT HONG KONG

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001380 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL HK SUBJECT: SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DISMAYED ABOUT HONG KONG TIP RANKING DOWNGRADE REF: HONG KONG 1315 Classified By: Consul General Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) In the Consul General's July 27 farewell call, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told the CG the Hong Kong government was "deeply puzzled and disappointed" that this year's Trafficking In Persons report downgraded Hong Kong from Tier 1 to Tier 2. Lee said his government did not think the Tier 2 ranking was justified and rejects the notion that Hong Kong did not have not have any TIP prosecutions in 2008. (Note: Hong Kong convicted several people for sending individuals abroad to work as prostitutes, but the crimes lacked the necessary element of force, fraud, or coercion to be considered TIP. End note.) It also is "simply unreasonable," Lee argued, to imply a small number of prosecutions somehow means Hong Kong tolerates trafficking. ¶2. (C) Lee also disputed the report's conclusion that Hong Kong did not provide adequate assistance to TIP victims. He said the consulate officials representing the seven foreign victims mentioned in the report told the Hong Kong government that the seven women did request unspecified assistance, but they concluded the women had not been forced to come to Hong Kong. (Note: This differs slightly from what the Philippines consulate told us. The women believed they were coming to Hong Kong to work as waitresses but were forced into prostitution upon arrival in Hong Kong. End note.) Lee said Hong Kong was being unfairly treated. He welcomed a visit by G/TIP Ambassador Luis CdeBaca to Hong Kong. ¶3. (C) The Consul General responded that all countries, including the United States, face challenges in battling human trafficking. The CG assured Secretary Lee that the reasons listed in the report for the Tier 2 ranking are the real reasons for the downgrade, and that there is no ulterior motive behind the report. The CG confirmed Chief Executive Donald Tsang (see reftel) welcomed a visit by Ambassador CdeBaca to Hong Kong, and promised he would urge Ambassador CdeBaca to visit Hong Kong at an early date. Lee agreed it was important to continue the dialogue on TIP, and suggested Hong Kong officials in Washington will be reaching out to the USG. Both sides praised the overall strong record of law enforcement and security cooperation between the United States and Hong Kong, and agreed it was important to maintain this relationship. Secretary Lee wished the CG well in his new assignment, and hoped the CG will provide good advice on Hong Kong to colleagues and continue to support the Hong Kong government. DONOVAN