Strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report concerning Macao

MACAU, October 9 - Regarding the U.S. Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report (hereinafter referred to as “the Report”), which ranked the Macao Special Administrative Region as Tier 3, the security authorities express resolute opposition and issue the following unequivocal response:

To prevent and combat human trafficking, the Macao SAR Government established the “Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee” (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) in 2007 and enacted Law No. 6/2008, “Combat the Crime of Trafficking in Persons”, the following year. The Committee has several working groups and actively coordinates efforts among government departments and all sectors of society to promote the SAR Government’s implementation, in accordance with the law, of public awareness and prevention work, personnel training, crime suppression, victim protection, and other multi-dimensional measures encompassing preventive action, targeted enforcement, and protection and accommodation for victims. The SAR Government also continuously assesses the effectiveness of these efforts and makes timely adjustments to targeted measures to strengthen prevention and enforcement. The results of all these efforts have been publicly disclosed and published, and information on these results is readily accessible to external parties and the general public. Through the joint efforts of the SAR Government and society as a whole, the number of reported human trafficking cases in Macao has remained low in recent years, with no cases reported in some instances, and Macao has been recognized by the international community as one of the “safest cities in the world”.

A review of the United States’ so-called Report reveals that it deliberately conflates cases involving ordinary crimes, labor disputes, and other matters with human trafficking activities. Instead of accurately reflecting Macao’s efforts and achievements in preventing and combating human trafficking, the United States continues to openly denigrate the Macao SAR’s human rights situation, judicial system, and commitment to the rule of law through descriptions riddled with falsehoods and bias of various kinds. The Report alleges inadequacies in Macao’s law enforcement and protection efforts, speculates that law enforcement personnel have made erroneous assessments, and makes groundless accusations of improper links between Macao and online fraud activities outside Macao. These allegations are entirely based on subjective speculation by the United States that disregards objective facts and are seriously at odds with the actual situation in Macao society. In fact, the SAR Government has consistently conducted comprehensive and professional investigations into any indications of suspected human trafficking in strict accordance with the law. During these investigations, it rigorously assesses whether victims have been subjected to acts contrary to their free will and maintains zero tolerance for any form of exploitation. The Report is replete with fabricated and false accusations, and even maliciously misrepresents the low or zero incidence of human trafficking achieved through the Macao SAR Government’s sustained efforts as “only one victim identified”. At the same time, it attempts to dictate how judicial cases in the SAR should be handled and to interfere with how prosecution and trial proceedings progress and with judicial decision-making. The SAR Government expresses strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to it.

In the future, the Macao SAR Government will, as always, continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with all relevant parties and international organizations and work together with all sectors of society to prevent and combat human trafficking. It will remain committed to safeguarding the safety and lawful rights and interests of local residents and persons from outside Macao, and will continue to work alongside like-minded members of the international community in efforts to eliminate human trafficking and all forms of exploitation.

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