It also received one more report of a Hong Kong citizen being held captive in Southeast Asia yesterday, taking the total of those conned into traveling to the area in employment frauds or romance scams to 39.

Of the 39 requests for assistance, 18 of them have been confirmed safe and 12 of them have returned to Hong Kong. But there are still 10 who are being detained in Myanmar and 11 in Cambodia.

At present, there is no specific legislation for human trafficking in Hong Kong.

Branches of Hope - a local NGO advocating for victims of trafficking - said in a press conference yesterday that they received two requests for help from alleged victims.

Both of them were kidnapped and taken to Myanmar after they traveled to Thailand. One was released after his family members paid a ransom, while the other was still held in Myanmar.

Patricia Ho, a principal lecturer at University of Hong Kong's faculty of law, said the government should make a law targeting human trafficking, as the current fraud charges cannot reflect the seriousness of the crime.

"[Human traffickers] can be charged more than fraud, if they are aware that the victims may suffer serious physical harm, including loss of freedom," she said.

"The legislation of human trafficking can effectively regulate the crimes at home or abroad."

Ho said human trafficking has more severe penalties in other countries and regions, with some giving life imprisonment or even death penalty.