Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10HONGKONG76
2010-01-14 03:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:
TIP: CLARIFYING HONG KONG'S VICTIM ASSISTANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO7525 PP RUEHCN RUEHGH DE RUEHHK #0076 0140335 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 140335Z JAN 10 FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9384 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 000076
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, DRL, INL, EAP/RSP, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2034
TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM SMIG HK MC CH
SUBJECT: TIP: CLARIFYING HONG KONG'S VICTIM ASSISTANCE
ARRANGEMENTS
REF: 09 HONG KONG 2340
Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher Marut. Reasons 1.4 B&D
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 000076
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, DRL, INL, EAP/RSP, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2034
TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM SMIG HK MC CH
SUBJECT: TIP: CLARIFYING HONG KONG'S VICTIM ASSISTANCE
ARRANGEMENTS
REF: 09 HONG KONG 2340
Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher Marut. Reasons 1.4 B&D
.
1. (SBU) Summary: Hong Kong NGOs providing care to victims of
trafficking in persons (TIP) recently clarified remarks made
to G/TIP Ambassador Luis CdeBaca which suggested the Hong
Kong government was unwilling to fund their work (reftel) by
explaining they had never actually requested financial
assistance. NGOs have generally found their own resources
adequate to support their clients and have not requested
subsidies even when their clients chose to assist in
prosecutions. While the NGOs differed in their assessments
of how willing the government would be to provide funding if
asked, all felt the lack of a formal government program for
dealing with TIP would make requesting assistance
complicated. From their side, Hong Kong officials have
stated categorically that stipends provided to potential
prosecution witnesses do not need to be repaid should the
victim ultimately choose not to testify. End Summary
2. (SBU) During G/TIP Ambassador Luis CdeBaca's December 4
visit to Hong Kong, NGOs expressed concerns that the
government was reluctant to provide funding to anyone but
active prosecution witnesses (reftel). We recently sought
clarification of these concerns with the Bethune House for
Migrant Workers, the Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos
(DPCF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Hong Kong office. We also sought clarification from the Hong
Kong Police Department regarding support offered to potential
prosecution witnesses.
--------------
No Need to Ask
--------------
3. (SBU) Bethune House, DPCF and IOM all confirmed to Poloff
their organizations had never requested Hong Kong government
(HKG) funding to care for victims of trafficking in persons
(TIP) because their existing budgets were adequate. Even in
the rare instances when a victim under their care
subsequently decided to press charges, the NGOs did not
request HKG assistance, relying instead on their normal
budget. IOM Hong Kong Director Gloria Ko told us she used IOM
global fund allocations or other existing project grants to
help TIP victims. DPCF Director Sr. Felicitas explained that
DPCF was entirely funded by the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese.
--------------
Will Without a Way?
--------------
4. (SBU) Sr. Felicitas believed the "HKG would definitely
help" if she asked but "would not offer," while IOM's Ko
believed it would be "quite difficult" to get the Social
Welfare Department (SWD) to commit separate resources for TIP
victims. Ko's more pessimistic view stemmed from her belief
that the HKG did not consider TIP an important issue. Though
more confident of the HKG's willingness to help, Sr.
Felicitas noted the HKG lacked a formal structure dedicated
to TIP victims, meaning a request from an NGO for assistance
for a TIP victim would go through an as-yet undefined ad hoc
process.
5. (SBU) While The Hong Kong government does not itself run a
shelter dedicated to TIP victims, five government-subsidized
women refuge centers for domestic abuse victims are open to
TIP victims. Sr. Felicitas suspected non-ethnic Chinese
women did not approach the government-subsidized shelters
because they believed the shelters primarily catered to
Chinese speakers. In fact, while SWD officials told us staff
at the shelters mostly spoke Chinese and English, SWD could
provide interpreters for other languages upon request.
--------------
No Quid Pro Quo
--------------
6. (C) Sr. Felicitas confirmed that the HKG provided HKD
$100/day (about USD 13) to TIP victims that it referred to
NGOs. (Note: DPCF currently is housing two TIP victims who
will be testifying in court February 1-3. End Note). During
a meeting December 30 to follow up on Ambassador CdeBaca's
visit, Hong Kong Police Superintendent Adrian Kwan insisted a
victim's willingness to serve as a witness in court was not a
requirement for HKG assistance. If a victim ultimately
decided not to press charges, s/he did not have to repay the
financial assistance already received.
MARUT
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, DRL, INL, EAP/RSP, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2034
TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM SMIG HK MC CH
SUBJECT: TIP: CLARIFYING HONG KONG'S VICTIM ASSISTANCE
ARRANGEMENTS
REF: 09 HONG KONG 2340
Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher Marut. Reasons 1.4 B&D
.
1. (SBU) Summary: Hong Kong NGOs providing care to victims of
trafficking in persons (TIP) recently clarified remarks made
to G/TIP Ambassador Luis CdeBaca which suggested the Hong
Kong government was unwilling to fund their work (reftel) by
explaining they had never actually requested financial
assistance. NGOs have generally found their own resources
adequate to support their clients and have not requested
subsidies even when their clients chose to assist in
prosecutions. While the NGOs differed in their assessments
of how willing the government would be to provide funding if
asked, all felt the lack of a formal government program for
dealing with TIP would make requesting assistance
complicated. From their side, Hong Kong officials have
stated categorically that stipends provided to potential
prosecution witnesses do not need to be repaid should the
victim ultimately choose not to testify. End Summary
2. (SBU) During G/TIP Ambassador Luis CdeBaca's December 4
visit to Hong Kong, NGOs expressed concerns that the
government was reluctant to provide funding to anyone but
active prosecution witnesses (reftel). We recently sought
clarification of these concerns with the Bethune House for
Migrant Workers, the Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos
(DPCF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Hong Kong office. We also sought clarification from the Hong
Kong Police Department regarding support offered to potential
prosecution witnesses.
--------------
No Need to Ask
--------------
3. (SBU) Bethune House, DPCF and IOM all confirmed to Poloff
their organizations had never requested Hong Kong government
(HKG) funding to care for victims of trafficking in persons
(TIP) because their existing budgets were adequate. Even in
the rare instances when a victim under their care
subsequently decided to press charges, the NGOs did not
request HKG assistance, relying instead on their normal
budget. IOM Hong Kong Director Gloria Ko told us she used IOM
global fund allocations or other existing project grants to
help TIP victims. DPCF Director Sr. Felicitas explained that
DPCF was entirely funded by the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese.
--------------
Will Without a Way?
--------------
4. (SBU) Sr. Felicitas believed the "HKG would definitely
help" if she asked but "would not offer," while IOM's Ko
believed it would be "quite difficult" to get the Social
Welfare Department (SWD) to commit separate resources for TIP
victims. Ko's more pessimistic view stemmed from her belief
that the HKG did not consider TIP an important issue. Though
more confident of the HKG's willingness to help, Sr.
Felicitas noted the HKG lacked a formal structure dedicated
to TIP victims, meaning a request from an NGO for assistance
for a TIP victim would go through an as-yet undefined ad hoc
process.
5. (SBU) While The Hong Kong government does not itself run a
shelter dedicated to TIP victims, five government-subsidized
women refuge centers for domestic abuse victims are open to
TIP victims. Sr. Felicitas suspected non-ethnic Chinese
women did not approach the government-subsidized shelters
because they believed the shelters primarily catered to
Chinese speakers. In fact, while SWD officials told us staff
at the shelters mostly spoke Chinese and English, SWD could
provide interpreters for other languages upon request.
--------------
No Quid Pro Quo
--------------
6. (C) Sr. Felicitas confirmed that the HKG provided HKD
$100/day (about USD 13) to TIP victims that it referred to
NGOs. (Note: DPCF currently is housing two TIP victims who
will be testifying in court February 1-3. End Note). During
a meeting December 30 to follow up on Ambassador CdeBaca's
visit, Hong Kong Police Superintendent Adrian Kwan insisted a
victim's willingness to serve as a witness in court was not a
requirement for HKG assistance. If a victim ultimately
decided not to press charges, s/he did not have to repay the
financial assistance already received.
MARUT