The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has submitted a bill to the city's Legislative Assembly in a bid to strengthen its fight against human trafficking, according to a Saturday report by The Macao Daily News.

The government has proposed in the bill that persons and organizations, who conduct human trafficking activities for prostitution, enforced labor, slavery and transplant of human organ and tissue, will be punished with a jail sentence of 3 to 10 years, and those who prey on children under 14 will see heavier jail sentence of 5 to 15 years.

Once passed by the assembly, the bill will give the government greater power to tackle activities both to and from Macao, as well as those conducted by Macao residents, said Tong Chi Kin, president of the Executive Council.

Meanwhile, the government is also planning to provide necessary assistance, such as legal advice, accommodation and medical services, to human trafficking victims.

By far no specific data on human-trafficking have been released, given its hidden nature. But the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that about 2.5 million people from 127 countries have been trafficked to 137 nations for purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, the removal of organs and body parts, forced marriages, child adoption and begging.