A second Hong Konger has been freed from a notorious scamming center in Myanmar amid concerns for 10 others who remain in captivity as families hear reports of electric shocks with batons, according to a campaigner working for the families of scam victims.
The person was released from the KK Park in Myawaddy, just across the river from Mae Sot in Thailand, on Sunday and is now in the “safe place” in Thailand, according to Andy Yu, a former district councilor who is campaigning on behalf of the families of Hong Kong victims.
No ransom was involved, said Yu, who delivered a petition letter along with relatives at the Myanmar Consulate General in Hong Kong on Monday, calling for help with the rescue of the 10 Hong Kongers who remain in Southeast Asian scam parks.
The release of the man is the second in a week, and comes after the city authorities sent a task force to Thailand in a bid to rescue an estimated 12 victims stuck in the scam parks.
What are these scam centers?
Thousands of people from around Asia -- and as far away as Africa -- have been trafficked these scam centers, mostly in Myanmar and Laos, but often run by Chinese, lured by false advertisements.
Trapped in the compound, the workers forced to contact people online and trick them into buying bogus investments to earn money for the operators. If they don’t reach quotas, the workers are often punished or tortured, according to accounts from people who have been freed.
Some of the 10 Hong Kongers are being held at a large compound in Kayin state called KK Park, a Chinese development project that has become a notorious center for scam operations.
“Some imprisoned Hong Kongers in the Myanmar park were given electric shocks because they failed to achieve their targets, so their families fear for their safety,” Yu said.
“Since we received that information, we are going to appeal to the Myanmar consulate, in the hope of rescuing them as soon as possible.'
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Yu went with a family member who gave only the nickname Calvin for fear of reprisals to the Consulate General of Myanmar to hand in a petition on Monday, but said there was nobody to receive it, forcing them to leave it downstairs with a concierge.
53,000 arrested
China’s Ministry of Public Security said on Jan. 13 it had arrested a total of 53,000 Chinese nationals involved in Myanmar scam operations in an ongoing crackdown, and that the Four Families crime syndicate in the northern Myanmar region of Kokang had been destroyed.
The ministry detailed a massive and “well-organized” cross-border operation involving massive participation from partners inside China, who promote, develop and update their schemes for luring unsuspecting jobseekers to Thailand or Myanmar, where they are kidnapped and made to work pending a ransom from their families.
Yu said the family members of the second freed victim had been allowed a one-minute phone call with them, and learned that they are now safely in Thailand.
It was unclear when the man would be allowed to return to Hong Kong.
Calvin told RFA Cantonese that his relative was lured into the park after going to Japan to pursue a business opportunity as a “purchasing agent.”
“I haven’t been able to contact my family member this whole time,” he said, in a reference to the last three weeks. “I hope the consulate ... can help us rescue our loved ones as soon as possible, so they can be reunited with their families.”
Calvin said the last time he spoke to his family member, he was only allowed a few minutes on the phone, and that the family hasn’t received any demand for ransom, something they might consider paying to get them out.
Hard to target
There are also fears that the crime syndicate that runs the park could just send them to another park.
“The family members feel that this case is urgent,” Yu said. “The government should take action as soon as possible before they’re transferred to another park and things get even worse.”
A statement on the Hong Kong government website said Secretary for Security Chis Tang met with Myanmar Consul-General Han Win Naing on Jan. 17, in a bid to follow up on the outstanding cases.
Tang “exchanged views and shared information” with Han Win Naing, and discussed “strengthening future follow-up work,” the statement said.
“Tang received positive feedback from Mr Han Win Naing, with all parties expressing hope to assist more assistance seekers in returning to Hong Kong safely as soon as possible,” it said.
Since 2024, law enforcement agencies have received a total of 28 requests for assistance in relation to Hong Kong residents held in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave, it said.
Seventeen have already returned home, and the task force will continue to follow up on the remaining cases, the statement said.
Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.