Remittances of foreign workers’ hard-earned money have been frozen, with the amount involved exceeding one million Hong Kong dollars. The Mutual Aid Group for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Migrant Caregivers held a press conference today (23rd), stating that it had recently received a number of cases in which remittances to mainland bank accounts through licensed money change shops had their accounts frozen. Most of the victims were foreign caregivers, and the largest The amount involved in one case exceeded HK$100,000. The mutual aid group stated that it was suspected that money exchange shops used illegal means to remit money, resulting in the freezing of mainland accounts, and questioned the loopholes in the supervision of Hong Kong law enforcement agencies.
MAY, the director of the mutual aid group for the protection of the rights and interests of foreign worker caregivers, said that in the past two months, 19 victims reported that their remittances had been frozen, 16 of whom were foreign worker caregivers, and the amount involved was HK$1,018,928, involving a total of 7 money change shops. MAY also stated that cases of frozen remittances are not uncommon. Cases of frozen remittances or bank accounts have appeared since 2018. During 2023, they also received 161 cases for help, involving an amount of approximately 10.7 million yuan (approximately 11.55 million yuan). Hong Kong dollars).
Ali, a foreign caregiver whose bank account has been frozen, said that she has been working as a caregiver in Hong Kong for 13 years and has been remitting money at money exchange shops. In November 2022, she transferred HK$64,725 to her family in the Mainland from a licensed money exchange shop in Sham Shui Po. In the bank account, the money exchange shop suspected of using a third-party intermediary (Ting Tsai) involved in mainland fraud cases to process remittances, turning Ali's legitimate remittances into "black money". The account was subsequently frozen by mainland law enforcement agencies and the remittances could not be withdrawn. Most of the remittances were seized by mainland law enforcement agencies in August 2023. After Ali's remittance was frozen, she went to the exchange shop many times to discuss the matter, but the person in charge of the exchange shop shied away from responsibility and refused to compensate.
Another victim, Alin, remitted 58,000 yuan (approximately HK$62,000) to a mainland account in October 2023 to treat his mother's illness. Later, the remittance and account were frozen. In March 2024, Alin received a notice from the mainland law enforcement authorities, requiring her to agree to have half of the frozen remittances deducted by the mainland law enforcement authorities so that her mainland account could be "unfrozen." The mainland law enforcement authorities stated that she could seek recourse from a Hong Kong money exchange shop. demand the above amount. Ah Lin said that her mother was in hospital and needed money urgently, so she had no choice but to comply with the request. However, when Arin wanted to recover the money from the exchange shop, the shop had closed down, making it impossible for her to recover.
In addition, members of the mutual aid group have reported these cases to different Hong Kong law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement agencies stated that the case involved domestic laws and could not be handled. Another law enforcement department stated that it would not assist the victim in recovering compensation or provide mediation services, nor would it negotiate with relevant mainland authorities. It would only recommend that the victim make a claim through the Small Claims Tribunal.
Original URL:on.cc
