The United States downgrades Hong Kong to Tier 3 in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The US State Department says the change reflects shortcomings related to law enforcement actions, including prosecutions, and efforts to identify victims.
Hong Kong’s government rejects the assessment, describing the claims as unfounded. Hong Kong officials say trafficking is not a prevalent problem in the city and that there is no evidence supporting the US findings. Outlets also report that Hong Kong challenges the credibility of the US review and characterizes it as applying a double standard. The city’s response is framed as a refutation of specific allegations in the “2026 TIP Report,” while the US rationale focuses on performance gaps versus US criteria. The downgrade places Hong Kong alongside other jurisdictions listed in Tier 3 in the report.
