Fear over new Fiji-HK route

November 29, 2009 02:48:42 PM

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There is fear that Fiji’s access to Hong Kong will increase Fiji’s attractiveness as a hub for human trafficking and prostitution.

Former director of Immigration Viliame Naupoto said Fiji was already an ideal transit location for international human trafficking networks as it offered sea and air access into major countries. 

He said the opening up of Hong Kong to Fiji through Air Pacific’s new service there next month is likely to increase the use of Fiji as a transit destination and there was a need for government to seriously look at its migration management. 

He said as a seaport hub, Fiji was also being increasingly used by drugs and prostitution rings to smuggle in Asian prostitutes to service crews of hundreds of fishing vessels crawling Pacific waters and who come to Fiji to refuel and replenish supplies.

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