Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For further information see Terrorism Abroad.
  
  
• In 2010, 537,650 British tourists visited Hong Kong (Source: The Hong Kong Tourism Board). See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. You should take sensible precautions against pick pocketing and other street crime.
  
  
• The typhoon season in Hong Kong normally runs from April to October.  See Natural Disasters.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
The incidence of violent crime is very low but pick pocketing and other street crime can occur. You should take extra care of passports, credit cards and money in crowded areas and when checking in and out of hotels. There have also been some isolated incidents of robberies in Hong Kong's Country Parks since 2005; these incidents have been reduced following a crime prevention operation by the Hong Kong Police. Nevertheless, if you intend to hike in Hong Kong's Country Parks you should stick to marked trails and avoid carrying credit/bank cards or large amounts of cash.

You should ensure that anything you drink cannot be tampered with.  You should also be wary of accepting drinks from strangers and always have a trusted friend to keep an eye on any unfinished drink if you need to leave it for a period of time.

See our Victims of crime abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Hong Kong is a stable society underpinned by the rule of law. Large-scale demonstrations are becoming more frequent in Hong Kong, but despite the substantial numbers these sometimes attract, they have been conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.  However, you should take sensible precautions against petty crime if in the vicinity.

Hong Kong country profile

Hong Kong law is based mainly on UK law. There are on the spot fines for littering and spitting. There is zero tolerance for ticketless travel the Mass Transit Railway (MTR).

You should not become involved with illicit drugs of any kind. Possession of these drugs can lead to imprisonment. 

As a general precaution don’t take photographs of military installations in Hong Kong.  Since the 1997 handover, the defence of Hong Kong has been the responsibility of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). All previous British military barracks now belong to the PLA.

See our Your trip page.   

Entry Requirements - Visas
Although Hong Kong is now part of the People's Republic of China it remains a Special Administrative Region with its own immigration controls.  You can stay in Hong Kong for up to six months without a visa.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Hong Kong. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

A British Citizen will normally be granted six months entry to Hong Kong on arrival, but only if the passport is valid for six months or more. If the passport has less than six months validity, Hong Kong Immigration will only grant one month longer than the scheduled stay in Hong Kong, but only if the validity of the passport allows this. 

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some places require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter, or in some cases, before permitting the children to leave.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London before travelling.

Entry Requirements - Visits to Mainland China
Those travelling on a British passport to Mainland China via Hong Kong must obtain a Chinese visa before arrival at the border. Visas are not available on arrival at the Chinese border for British passport holders. Failure to follow this guideline could result in a fine and possible detention by the Mainland Chinese authorities. Visitors entering Hong Kong via Mainland China and leaving again via the mainland should note they will need to be in possession of a double or multiple entry visa for Mainland China.

The UK and Hong Kong Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement ended in June 1997.

You may undergo temperature screening at borders. Depending on results, further medical examinations may be required.

Every year several cases of dengue fever are reported in Hong Kong.  

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Hong Kong and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

Natural Disasters - Typhoons
The typhoon season in Hong Kong normally runs from April to October. Typhoons very occasionally hit Hong Kong and may cause flooding and landslides. Warning is given in advance. Public offices shut down when the "Typhoon 8" signal is hoisted.

You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Hong Kong Observatory (http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm). See also our Tropical Cyclones page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, as the cost of medical care in Hong Kong is high. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Employment
You must obtain an appropriate visa before arriving in Hong Kong if it is your intention to work there. For more information, you can contact the nearest Chinese mission with visa issuing facilities or the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Their address is Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (tel:  2824 4055, fax:  2598 8388).

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
In 2010, 537,650 British tourists visited Hong Kong (Source: The Hong Kong Tourism Board). Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Hong Kong in 2010 was for replacing lost and stolen passports and petty crimes.