hong kong travel restrictions 2022

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Hong Kong eases travel rules in apparent shift from zero-Covid policy

Ban on flights from nine countries lifted for fully vaccinated residents and quarantine reduced to seven days

Hong Kong will lift a ban on flights from nine countries and reduce hotel quarantine alongside a “roadmap” towards eased restrictions that suggest a departure from the territory’s zero-Covid policy, its leader has announced.

From 1 April, fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents who have received a negative PCR test will be allowed to enter on flights from the UK, Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and the US. Arrivals have to undergo seven days’ hotel quarantine, down from 14 previously.

The “circuit breaker flight ban” was no longer necessary for those nine countries because the situations there were “no worse” than that in Hong Kong, the chief executive, Carrie Lam, told the media on Monday, acknowledging the anxiety restrictions had caused to Hongkongers stranded overseas.

Hong Kong has maintained some of the world’s strictest border rules, blocking non-residents from entry, enforcing 21-day quarantines, and punitively banning airlines for carrying Covid-positive passengers.

Lam also announced social restrictions on gathering limits, mask-wearing, and business and venue operations would begin easing in three phases from 20 April. Schools will resume face-to-face classes from 19 April, and plans for a controversial mandatory mass testing rollout were suspended, citing advice from mainland experts.

Lam emphasised the roadmap was subject to change, but ruled out anything being relaxed earlier than stated.

“People may be desensitised to Covid positive numbers,” she said. “I would urge the members of the public to be more patient with this timetable and roadmap. As long as the trend is coming down in four weeks’ time we should be able to resume normal life.”

The roadmap echoes those put in place by other countries as they transitioned away from harsh restrictions to living with the virus, often after being overwhelmed by an Omicron outbreak. Hong Kong has been committed to a “dynamic zero” policy of eliminating each outbreak as it occurs, but had begun introducing mitigation strategies as infections and fatalities rose.

On Monday, Lam would not say if her announcement was an admission that Hong Kong would have to live with the virus, telling reporters not to “draw any conclusions”.

Prof Alexandra Martiniuk, an epidemiologist at the University of Sydney, said the new policy setting “does look as though it’s signalling to move away from a Covid- zero or a dynamic-zero aim”.

Prof Martiniuk said no country so far had experienced a large Omicron wave and completely contained it. “Covid-zero becomes extremely difficult to maintain once it’s out of the bag in a large way,” she said.

“Keeping public health protections in place but letting go of the concept of Covid-zero does sound like where Hong Kong is going.”

The government of mainland China – which is also battling its own, smaller Omicron outbreak – has previously said Hong Kong must maintain a Covid-zero policy before it would reopen the border between them. Hong Kong’s government had prioritised reopening to the mainland over the rest of the world, but on Monday, Lam said Hong Kong would always have to take into account “connectivity with the outside world” as well as with the mainland.

Health authorities say the city is past the peak of an Omicron outbreak that infected at least 1 million people, but potentially half the population, overwhelming hospitals. More than 5,000 people have died. The government did not put the city under lockdown, but instead introduced or reintroduced a range of social restrictions, including some that sparked confusion and frustrating, such as the closure of beaches.

The restrictions have put pressure on residents, who are leaving in droves. Net departures have surpassed 54,000 for this month, after 71,000 in February, Reuters reported.

Kenneth Tang, a 24-year old project executive, said he and his friends had grown frustrated and sometimes very distressed under Hong Kong’s restrictions and the devastating outbreak .

“The impact in my personal life is serious, the psychological impact has affected my body. Hongkongers have to find ways to save themselves,” he said.

“I think we should take references from other countries. It’s not possible to have Covid zero now,” he said. “So we should see what the UK, Australia, and Canada do. We can do a similar solution to them. I think it is very important to lift the flight bans, and they should help to maintain our mental health as soon as possible.”

Additional reporting by Chi Hui Lin and Xiaoqian Zhu

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• Presentation of a negative nucleic acid testing report prior to boarding will no longer be required. Instead, a declaration of the negative result of a self-arranged rapid antigen test (RAT) conducted within 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure should be made via the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the Department of Health.
• Boarding requirement of having completed vaccination for Hong Kong residents will be lifted. Non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above will still be required to be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical exemption certificate before they are allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong.
• "Test-and-go" arrangement will be implemented at the Hong Kong International Airport, i.e. inbound persons will not be required to wait for the test result at the airport after undergoing specimen collection for the nucleic acid test. They can take public transport or self-arranged transport to return to their home or their hotel of choice.
• Quarantine arrangement upon arrival at Hong Kong will be changed to "0+3", i.e. no compulsory quarantine will be required. There will be three days of medical surveillance during which inbound persons are free to go out but are obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass, followed by a four-day self-monitoring period, making it a 7-day observation period in total.
• Nucleic acid tests at community testing centres, mobile testing stations or other recognised institutions on Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6 (the day of arrival is Day 0) will be required upon arrival at Hong Kong, supplemented by daily RATs from Day 1 to Day 7.
• For inbound persons who are tested positive by nucleic acid tests or RATs, their Vaccine Pass will be converted to a Red Code. Their isolation arrangements will be aligned with that for local cases.
• Day 0: nucleic acid test at the airport;
• Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6: after obtaining a negative result of RAT on respective days, inbound persons should undergo nucleic acid test at a community testing centre or a mobile specimen collection station, or arrange a self-paid test by professional swab sampling at a local medical testing institution recognised by the Government; and
• During medical surveillance and self-monitoring periods, inbound persons are subject to daily RAT until Day 7 of arrival at Hong Kong.
• Premises required to use the QR Code Verification Scanner and is regulated under Cap. 599F, i.e. catering business premises (including bars or pubs), amusement game centres, bathhouses, fitness centres, places of amusement, indoor places of public entertainment, party rooms, beauty parlours and massage establishments, club houses, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, indoor sports premises, swimming pools, cruise ships, indoor event premises, barber shops or hair salons and religious premises.
• Premises required to inspect the Vaccine Pass visually as far as feasible, i.e. outdoor places of public entertainment, outdoor sports premises and outdoor event premises.

Hong Kong to allow international travellers for first time since 2020

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Follow our news, recent searches, visiting hong kong soon here's what you need to know about the revised entry rules, advertisement.

While arrivals no longer face restrictions on moving around - provided they test negative for COVID-19 - there are still several regulations in force.

Passengers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport on Dec 8, 2022. (Photo: AFP/Isaac Lawrence)

Ashley Tham

SINGAPORE: From Wednesday (Dec 14), international passengers arriving in Hong Kong will no longer face COVID-19 movement controls following the axing of a mandatory mobile application.

Travellers were previously issued an "amber code", which meant they could not visit venues like restaurants or bars for their first three days in Hong Kong. 

Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said on Tuesday that "international arrivals don't have any restrictions" after the easing of COVID-19 rules.

"So the same day they step off the aircraft, they are free to enter any premises," he added.

While arrivals no longer face restrictions on moving around - provided they test negative for COVID-19 -  there are still several regulations in force.

Inbound travellers to Hong Kong have to be fully vaccinated and undergo a pre-departure Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 24 hours before the scheduled time of departure.

After submitting their negative test result and vaccination records via a health and quarantine declaration form, a green health declaration QR code will be generated for visitors for presentation at their airline check-in counter. 

Upon arrival, they must take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the Hong Kong International Airport and on their third day in the city. 

The PCR tests can be conducted at community testing centres, mobile specimen collection stations or any recognised local medical testing institution.

Travellers are also required to undertake RAT testing for the first five days of their visit and report the results through Hong Kong's electronic COVID-19 Medical Surveillance System. 

Snap Insight: Hong Kong lifts all travel curbs – could this be the test balloon for China’s reopening?

Here's everything new you'll want to experience when you're in Hong Kong

Masks are also still compulsory both indoors and outdoors, unless engaging in exercise or in country parks, while group gatherings are currently capped at 12 people. However, people are able to go to nightclubs and banquets. 

For those intending to visit eateries or drinking establishments, Mr Lo said visitors will "need to show a photograph or paper record of their COVID-19 vaccines at some venues which require it".

Hong Kong has followed closely in China's footsteps in enforcing a zero-COVID policy but began scaling down the tight regulations in the last few months. 

COVID-19 rules that travellers to Hong Kong must continue to follow:

Inbound travellers to Hong Kong have to be fully vaccinated and undergo a pre-departure RAT test within 24 hours before the scheduled time of departure.

Two PCR tests - one at the airport and one on the third day of their visit.

RAT testing for the first five days of their visit, with results to be submitted online.

Mask-wearing remains largely compulsory both indoors and outdoors.

Group gatherings of more than 12 people in public places are not allowed.

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Arrangements for inbound Persons- Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the current arrival arrangements for inbound persons? Please refer to this webpage .
• I am not vaccinated. Can I come to Hong Kong? The Government has lifted the vaccination requirement for all inbound persons coming to Hong Kong.
• What will happen to symptomatic inbound persons? All inbound persons must pass temperature checks upon arrival. Those found with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling (such as transferring to public hospital for further management).
• What is the health advice for travellers? Maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times for personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. Meanwhile, outbound travellers should take heed of the health advice below: Complete COVID-19 vaccination before travel according to the latest recommendations to effectively protect against COVID-19 disease (For details on COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to thematic website for COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html ); Maintain strict personal and hand hygiene at all times when taking public transport or staying in crowded places; and If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing respiratory symptoms, wear a well-fitted surgical mask and seek medical advice at once.
• Where can I obtain more information? Please visit the COVID-19 thematic website , designated page on inbound travel , the Centre for Health Protection webpage and the Facebook fan page of the Centre for Health Protection regularly for further information and updates.

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Travelling to Hong Kong? Here's what you need to know

A guide to help you prepare for your entry into the city

International travellers are free to come to Hong Kong, and there are no more restrictions upon arrival.  If you have some enquiries about travelling to the city, we've compiled a guide to help you with everything you need to know when entering Hong Kong, from things to prepare before arriving at Hong Kong International Airport to all the steps you must take as soon as you land.  

RECOMMENDED:  Keep updated with the  latest Covid-19 measures in the city . 

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Who can visit Hong Kong now?

Hong Kong has already dropped the vaccination requirement for Hongkongers and international arrivals. Unvaccinated residents and non-residents will be able to enter the city without restriction .  

What are the requirements to enter Hong Kong?

With Covid-19 measures now eased in Hong Kong, including arrival restrictions, international travellers looking to explore the city are now free to enter. Of course, if your country requires a visa to visit Hong Kong,  please obtain one before your trip . 

Negative RAT or RT-PCR test results before boarding are no longer required . 

Will they allow entry if my visa is expiring?

If you're not a permanent Hong Kong resident and travelling under a work or tourist visa, ensure your visa has a sufficient validity period, or you will be denied entry. 

The Immigration Department (ImmD) provides electronic services for visa application and 'e-Visa' arrangements , allowing applicants to complete the entire process without going to the immigration office in person. Suppose your visa is under renewal and is getting delayed. It is best to send an authorised representative to the ImmD office to fix your reentry as emails and phone calls will take a long time. 

Visit this link to see ImmD online services for acquiring Hong Kong visas. 

Can arrivals move freely around the city?

Yes, Covid-19 regulations have already eased in Hong Kong. You can freely  explore all the incredible things to do in the city . Mask-wearing mandate, the last major rule to fight against Covid-19, has been lifted since March 1. 

For more clarity,  here's our guide on everything you need to know  about Hong Kong's current Covid-19 restrictions. 

Do I still need to take Covid-19 tests?

You don't need to present negative Covid-19 results when you arrive at the Hong Kong airport, but the government recommends taking daily RAT until the fifth day of arrival (arrival date count as Day 0). Those who take the test may voluntarily declare the result  via the Department of Health's Electronic Covid-19 Monitoring & Surveillance System (eCMSS) .  

Ok, so you finally booked your flight, what to do next?

To ensure a smooth and efficient arrival, prepare all your travel documents, including visa for non-Hong Kong residents. 

What time should I go to the airport for departure? 

Delays, cancellations, and a whole lot of waiting may happen before departure, so make sure to be at the airport at least three hours before your flight. Account for extra time if you encounter any problems with airline check-in. 

Arrival at Hong Kong International Airport

Yes, you're finally in Hong Kong, but not just yet. You still have a few more steps to finish before entering. Though the new system significantly cuts the waiting time in the airport, the influx of inbound travellers may affect processing time.

After landing, all inbound persons will pass through temperature checks upon arrival. Those with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling. If you're cleared, you can proceed with immigration procedures, baggage collection, and continue taking public transportation to your hotel or home.

What are the options for airport transfers?

Travellers arriving in the city can take public transport to their destination. Those who want a limousine service can contact their hotels for arrangements.  One of the fastest ways to travel from the Airport to the city is through Airport Express.

Find more information  here . 

What if I tested positive for Covid-19?

Hong Kong government no longer issue isolation orders to infected Covid-19 cases since January 30. The government advises symptomatic persons to stay at home to rest and avoid going out. Those who are asymptomatic can go out at will or go to work.

If you belong to high-risk groups and suffer from fever, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhoea, the government recommends that you seek medical attention. 

For more information, visit this  link .   

Got more questions?

The government has set up a page for all your questions about inbound travel to Hong Kong . Due to the changing nature of Covid-19 measures, please  visit this link  to keep updated with the latest travel regulations. 

Feel free to roam Hong Kong!  These itineraries will give you a dose of inspiration . Looking for hotel accommodations during your trip?  Here's a guide to some of our favourite Hong Kong hotels  – all tried and tested by our editors. You can also check out   the most romantic hotels  in the city or schedule a weekend getaway from the  best beachside hotels ,  boutique hotels , or  luxury camping spots in town .  

You've been gone a while, here's what's new in HK

50 Most incredible things to do in Hong Kong

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Whatever you're looking for, there are plenty of places to visit and activities to keep you entertained in the 852. 

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A definitive list of the 50 best Hong Kong bars to visit right now.

50 Best restaurants to try in Hong Kong

The best places to eat in the city, from traditional Japanese and fine French to hipster hangouts, hidden gems, and everything else in between.

New restaurants to try in Hong Kong

The latest and greatest restaurants to get stuck into this month

New bars to try in Hong Kong now

A  list of new drinking dens to add to your bar-hopping itinerary. 

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China Travel Advisory

Travel advisory june 30, 2023, see summaries - mainland china, hong kong & macau.

Reissued with updates to wrongful detention language and information for the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions (SARs).

Summary: Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions .

Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Reconsider travel to the Macau SAR due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services . Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Macau SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction. 

Mainland China – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws , including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions .

Summary:  The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.

The Department of State has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the PRC government exists in the PRC.

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to interrogations and detention without fair and transparent treatment under the law.

Foreigners in the PRC, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign-government personnel, academics, relatives of PRC citizens involved in legal disputes, and journalists have been interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws. The PRC has also interrogated, detained, and expelled U.S. citizens living and working in the PRC.

PRC authorities appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage. There is increased official scrutiny of U.S. and third-country firms, such as professional service and due diligence companies, operating in the PRC. Security personnel could detain U.S. citizens or subject them to prosecution for conducting research or accessing publicly available material inside the PRC.

Security personnel could detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR governments.

In addition, the PRC government has used restrictions on travel or departure from the PRC, or so-called exit bans, to:

• compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations;
• pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad;
• resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens; and
• gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.

U.S. citizens might only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there may be no available legal process to contest an exit ban in a court of law. Relatives, including minor children, of those under investigation in the PRC may become subject to an exit ban.

The PRC government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a U.S. citizen and choose to enter Mainland China on travel documents other than a U.S. passport and are detained or arrested, the PRC government may not notify the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulates General or allow consular access.

Check with the PRC Embassy in the United States for the most updated information on travel to the PRC. In some limited circumstances travelers to Mainland China may face additional COVID-19 testing requirements to enter some facilities or events.

The Department of State does not provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID-19 vaccine doses where they are eligible.

Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC. A positive drug test, even if the drug was legal elsewhere, can lead to immediate detention, fines, deportation, and/or a ban from re-entering the PRC. PRC authorities may compel cooperation with blood, urine, or hair testing. Penalties for drug offense may exceed penalties imposed in the United States.

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION, and TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURES

Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence and surveillance, are common in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures. Authorities may impose curfews and travel restrictions on short notice.

If you decide to travel to Mainland China:

• Enter the PRC on your U.S. passport with a valid PRC visa and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for Mainland China .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid demonstrations.
• Exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
• Avoid taking photographs of protesters or police without permission.
• Keep a low profile.
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Embassy Beijing or the nearest U.S. Consulate General immediately.
• Review the  China Country Security Report  from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• Do not consume drugs in the PRC or prior to arriving in the PRC.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Embassy Beijing on  Twitter ,  WeChat , and  Weibo .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the PRC.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• If you plan to enter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), read the  DPRK Travel Advisory . U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK, unless they are specially validated by the Department of State.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Summary: Since the imposition of the National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has demonstrated an intent to use the law to target a broad range of activities such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The National Security Law also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong SAR residents or organizations outside of the Hong Kong SAR, which could subject U.S. citizens who have been publicly critical of the PRC and/or the administration of the Hong Kong SAR to a heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.

The Hong Kong SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter Hong Kong SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau (usconsulate.gov) .

If you decide to travel to the Hong Kong SAR:

• Enter the Hong Kong SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for the Hong Kong SAR .
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau immediately.
• Do not consume drugs in the Hong Kong SAR or prior to arriving in the Hong Kong SAR.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the Hong Kong SAR.
• Monitor local media, local transportations sites, and apps like  MTR Mobile  or  CitybusNWFB  for updates.
• Review your Hong Kong flight status with your airline or at the Hong Kong International Airport website .

Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Summary: The U.S. government has a limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Macau SAR due to People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel restrictions on U.S. diplomatic personnel.

Even in an emergency, the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires all U.S. diplomatic personnel, including those accredited to the Macau SAR, to apply for and receive visas before entering the Macau SAR. Approval takes at least five to seven days, limiting the U.S. government’s ability to offer timely consular services in the Macau SAR.

The Macau SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter the Macau SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you. In practice, however, U.S. consular officers may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports. For more information, visit Consular Protection and Right of Abode in HK(SAR) for Dual Nationals - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau (usconsulate.gov) .

Demonstrations : Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

If you decide to travel to the Macau SAR:

• Enter the Macau SAR on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
• Read the travel information page for the Macau SAR .
• Do not consume drugs in the Macau SAR or prior to arriving in the Macau SAR.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to the Macau SAR.

Travel Advisory Levels

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Warnings and insurance

This travel advice covers the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). For mainland China, see travel advice for China and for Macao SAR, see Macao travel advice .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice . 

Dual Chinese-British nationality

Hong Kong does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both British and Chinese nationality, you may be treated as a Chinese citizen by local authorities, even if you enter Hong Kong on your British passport. If this is the case, the British Consulate-General may not be able to offer you consular help.    

If you have formally renounced Chinese citizenship, carry evidence that you have done so.

See guidance on nationality in China . 

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Hong Kong lifts inbound quarantine rules effective 26 September 2022

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There will be three days of medical surveillance, during which inbound persons are free to go out but obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass.

As the local epidemic situation is gradually being contained, the HKSAR government has announced the lifting of compulsory quarantine requirement for inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan starting from 26 September 2022 (Monday), as well as rationalising of the arrangement for inbound persons from the Mainland or Macao, in order to provide greater convenience for travellers and resume the international connection. 

Details of inbound control measures implemented starting from 6am on 26 September 2022 (Hong Kong Time) are as follows:

Arriving at Hong Kong from overseas places or Taiwan

Boarding requirements

Presentation of a negative nucleic acid testing report prior to boarding is no longer required. Instead, inbound persons are required to conduct a self-arranged rapid antigen test (RAT) (can be self-administered or by professional swab sampling) within 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure and get a negative result.

Boarding requirement of having completed vaccination for Hong Kong residents is lifted. Non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above are still required to be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical exemption certificate before they are allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong. As for persons aged between 12 and 17 on the scheduled day of departure for Hong Kong, they may be deemed to have completed the COVID-19 vaccination course on receiving one dose of the Comirnaty vaccine. Relevant persons who are fully vaccinated, as well as children under 12-year-old accompanied by them, can board for Hong Kong.

Inbound persons are still required to complete the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the Department of Health in advance, including declaration of vaccination records and the results of pre-departure RAT.

Inbound persons are also required to present the green health declaration QR code generated upon completion of declaration (which can be a downloadable version of the QR code, a screen shot or a printout) at check-in for verification by airlines for boarding. The health declaration QR code will still be valid for 96 hours, i.e. inbound persons can submit the declaration form as early as three days before their scheduled arrival time in Hong Kong, then further update the declaration after obtaining the negative result of a RAT.

Arrangements upon arrival

Upon arrival at Hong Kong, the relevant persons will be required to register for undergoing a nucleic acid test by scanning the health declaration QR code. The system will issue medical surveillance notices, vaccination records, and Provisional Vaccine Pass QR codes electronically.

After having their specimen collected for nucleic acid testing, the relevant inbound persons may proceed with the normal arrival process, continue with immigration and customs clearance, and claim their baggage. They are no longer required to undergo an RAT to obtain a negative result before they can be released under the current 'test-and-hold' arrangement.

They can leave the airport by taking public transport or self-arranged transport to return to their home or their hotel of choice.

Quarantine arrangement upon arrival at Hong Kong has been changed to '0+3', i.e. no compulsory quarantine is required.

There will be three days of medical surveillance, during which they are free to go out but obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass. They can conduct daily essential activities of lower risks, such as taking public transport, going to work, entering supermarkets and markets, etc., but  are not allowed to enter high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities, as well as other premises requiring key protection , i.e.:

• catering business premises (including bars or pubs),
• amusement game centres,
• bathhouses,
• fitness centres,
• places of amusement,
• indoor places of public entertainment,
• party rooms,
• beauty parlours and massage establishments,
• club houses,
• clubs or nightclubs,
• karaoke establishments,
• mahjong-tin kau premises,
• indoor sports premises,
• swimming pools,
• cruise ships,
• indoor event premises,
• barber shops or hair salons,
• religious premises, 
• outdoor places of public entertainment,
• outdoor sports premises,
• outdoor event premises
• residential care homes for the elderly,
• residential care homes for persons with disabilities,
• schools, and
• designated healthcare premises.

A person holding an Amber Code who works or studies at those premises, or receives services at the designated healthcare premises, is not subject to the restriction under the Vaccine Pass. However, their entry will subject to any additional rules or requirements imposed by the employers or persons-in-charge of individual premises in accordance with their own needs.

Inbound persons are subject to multiple tests after arrival at Hong Kong:

• Day 0 : nucleic acid test at the airport;
• Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6 : after obtaining a negative result of RAT on respective days, inbound persons should undergo nucleic acid test at a community testing centre or a mobile specimen collection station, or arrange a self-paid test by professional swab sampling at a local medical testing institution recognised by the Government; and
• During medical surveillance and self-monitoring periods, inbound persons are subject to daily RAT until Day 7 of arrival at Hong Kong.

For relevant inbound persons who consecutively test negative, medical surveillance and Amber Code restrictions on them will end at 9am on Day 3 of arrival at Hong Kong. They will then be subject to a four-day self-monitoring period right afterwards.

For persons who test positive , their Vaccine Pass will be switched to Red Code. Their isolation arrangements will be aligned with that for local cases. Relevant persons should provide  nucleic acid tests  or  RATs information to the Centre for Health Protection through the online platforms.

For persons who arrived at Hong Kong before 26 September 2022 and are still undergoing quarantine at Designated Quarantine Hotels (DQHs) on that day, they are allowed to leave as arranged by DQHs on 26 September. Persons who arrive at Hong Kong within three days are still required to undergo medical surveillance and subject to Amber Code restrictions. Meanwhile, they are required to undergo self-arranged nucleic acid tests and daily RATs in accordance with the above-mentioned testing arrangements.

Requirements for inbound persons from the Mainland or Macao who have no travel history of overseas places or Taiwan in the seven days prior to arrival at Hong Kong

The  Return2hk or Come2hk  schemes are extended to cover all places in the Mainland and Macao with no quota restriction. Advanced application and nucleic acid test before arrival at Hong Kong are also not required.

Before arriving boundary control points, inbound persons are required to complete  Department of Health’s electronic health declaration  and obtain a green health declaration QR code .

Inbound persons from the Mainland or Macao are not required to undergo home quarantine after arriving at Hong Kong. However, they still need to undergo nucleic acid test on Day 2 and be subject to self-monitoring in the three days after arrival at Hong Kong.

For persons who arrived at Hong Kong earlier and are undergoing home quarantine, they are no longer required to undergo home quarantine from 26 September 2022 onwards and can then remove their electronic wristbands.

Persons travelling from Hong Kong to the Mainland or Macao are still subject to the special testing arrangement to undergo an additional free rapid nucleic acid test prior to their departure via land boundary control points or the airport. Only those who receive a negative result can continue with their journeys.

Persons subject to Amber Code restrictions will not be allowed to undergo the relevant special nucleic acid test at land boundary control points or the airport, meaning that inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan are not allowed to transit to the Mainland or Macao within the three days upon arrival at Hong Kong.

ALSO READ:   Hong Kong's social distancing measures extended to 5 October 2022

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US to Impose New Visa Curbs on Hong Kong Officials Over Rights Crackdown

A supporter scuffles with police the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building during the hearing of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China February 6, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

By David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States said on Friday it will impose new visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials over the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Chinese-ruled territory.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in the past year China continued to take actions against Hong Kong's promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms, including with the recent enactment of a new national security law known as Article 23.

"In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms," Blinken said in a statement.

The statement did not identify the officials who would be targeted.

In November, Hong Kong condemned a U.S. bill calling for sanctions against 49 Hong Kong officials, judges and prosecutors involved in national security cases, saying U.S. legislators were grandstanding and trying to intimidate the city.

Officials named in that Hong Kong Sanctions Act included Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Police chief Raymond Siu and judges Andrew Cheung, Andrew Chan, Johnny Chan, Alex Lee, Esther Toh and Amanda Woodcock.

The United States has imposed visa restrictions and other sanctions in the past on Hong Kong officials blamed for undermining freedoms and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory long enjoyed under U.S. law.

It has also warned that foreign financial institutions that conduct business with them would be subject to sanctions.

The U.S. Hong Kong Policy Act requires the State Department to report each year to Congress on conditions in Hong Kong.

"This year, I have again certified that Hong Kong does not warrant treatment under U.S. laws in the same manner as the laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997," Blinken said, referring to when Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain.

"This year’s report catalogs the intensifying repression and ongoing crackdown by PRC and Hong Kong authorities on civil society, media, and dissenting voices, including through the issuance of bounties and arrest warrants for more than a dozen pro-democracy activists living outside Hong Kong," Blinken said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong said the report and statements issued by Blinken "confused right and wrong" and "stigmatized" Hong Kong's national security law and the city's electoral system.

The threat to sanction Hong Kong officials "grossly interferes" in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, a spokesperson said in a statement issued on Saturday.

"Instead of acting as the world's policeman and issuing an annual 'Hong Kong Policy Act report', the United States should take time to examine itself."

China's embassy in Washington said it strongly deplored and firmly opposed U.S. threats to "impose unwarranted unilateral sanctions" on Hong Kong.

"The U.S. side disregards facts, makes irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong affairs, and levels groundless accusations" at the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, the embassy posted on its website.

"The US should immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and other internal affairs of China," it said.

U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia said on Friday it had closed its Hong Kong bureau, citing concerns over staff safety after the enactment of the new national security law.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule with the guarantee that its high degree of autonomy and freedoms would be protected under a "one country, two systems" formula.

In recent years, many pro-democracy politicians and activists have been jailed or gone into exile, and liberal media outlets and civil society groups have been shut down.

This month, in a joint statement, 145 community and advocacy groups condemned the security law and called for sanctions on officials involved in its passage, and a review of the status of Hong Kong's Economic & Trade Offices worldwide.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh; Additional reporting by Farah Master and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong, and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Kim Coghill and William Mallard)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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US imposes visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials in response to passing of tough security law

The United States will impose new visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials over the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Chinese-ruled territory.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that in the past year China continued to take actions against Hong Kong's promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms, including with the recent enactment of a new national security law known as Article 23.

"In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms," Mr Blinken said in a statement.

The statement did not identify the officials who would be targeted.

In November, Hong Kong condemned a US bill calling for sanctions against 49 Hong Kong officials, judges and prosecutors involved in national security cases, saying US legislators were grandstanding and trying to intimidate the city.

Officials named in that Hong Kong Sanctions Act included Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Police chief Raymond Siu and judges Andrew Cheung, Andrew Chan, Johnny Chan, Alex Lee, Esther Toh and Amanda Woodcock.

The United States has imposed visa restrictions and other sanctions in the past on Hong Kong officials blamed for undermining freedoms and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory long enjoyed under US law.

It has also warned that foreign financial institutions that conduct business with them would be subject to sanctions.

The US Hong Kong Policy Act requires the State Department to report each year to Congress on conditions in Hong Kong.

"This year, I have again certified that Hong Kong does not warrant treatment under US laws in the same manner as the laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997," Mr Blinken said, referring to when Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain.

"This year's report catalogues the intensifying repression and ongoing crackdown by PRC [People's Republic of China] and Hong Kong authorities on civil society, media, and dissenting voices, including through the issuance of bounties and arrest warrants for more than a dozen pro-democracy activists living outside Hong Kong," Mr Blinken said.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong said the report and statements issued by Mr Blinken "confused right and wrong" and "stigmatised" Hong Kong's national security law and the city's electoral system.

The threat to sanction Hong Kong officials "grossly interferes" in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, a spokesperson said in a statement issued on Saturday.

"Instead of acting as the world's policeman and issuing an annual 'Hong Kong Policy Act report', the United States should take time to examine itself."

China's embassy in Washington said it strongly deplored and firmly opposed US threats to "impose unwarranted unilateral sanctions" on Hong Kong.

"The US side disregards facts, makes irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong affairs, and levels groundless accusations" at the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, the embassy posted on its website.

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Local businesses struggle as Hongkongers log almost 1.76 million outbound trips over Easter holiday

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Industry representatives have said that local businesses saw a drop in trade over the long Easter weekend, as Hongkongers made almost 1.76 million outbound trips – four times the number of inbound visitor figures.

According to Immigration Department data , Hong Kong residents made almost 1.76 million outbound trips from Friday to Monday, while mainland and other visitors made 400,369 inbound trips to Hong Kong in the same timeframe.

The department logged 700,808 departures by Hong Kong residents on Friday, 453,946 on Saturday, 358,300 on Sunday, and 246,369 on Monday. Hong Kong resident arrivals also picked up throughout the weekend as they returned from the holidays, with 527,673 arrivals recorded on Monday.

Hong Kong has been fighting an uphill battle to revive its tourism sector since the government lifted stringent, years-long Covid restrictions last February. The number of visitors has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, while tourism-related sectors have said recovery had been stalled by a shortage of manpower.

According to Immigration Department figures, this year’s visitor arrivals were 40 per cent lower than figures for Easter 2018, before widespread protests shook the city in 2019 and the Covid pandemic hit soon after.

Hongkongers logged 1.98 million departures in Easter 2018, from March 29 to April 2.

President of the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, Simon Wong, told an RTHK programme on Monday that restaurants saw a significant drop in business over Easter – with nighttime business falling by more than 40 percent.

He also estimated that 200 to 300 restaurants had to close in the past month, adding that he believed the industry would see continued closures.

See also: Over HK$1.1 billion to ‘soft sell’ Hong Kong, including monthly drone and fireworks shows

“This has rung alarm bells for the restaurant industry,” he said. “In the short term, our confidence in the industry has faltered quite a bit, with northbound consumption becoming a trend,” Wong added, referring to Hongkongers’ travelling to mainland China.

Wong said that while mega-events could draw business to restaurants, the only establishments that could benefit from were venues near the events such as the West Kowloon Arts District, Tsim Sha Tsui, or other harbourfront areas.

Wong added said the residents who left Hong Kong during the Easter holiday had higher spending power compared to those who remained in the city, and that high-end restaurants were the most affected by the outbound tourism wave.

Executive director at EGL Tours Steve Huen, also speaking to RTHK, said the travel agency saw an increase in bookings for trips to Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Bookings for mainland China trips saw the most significant increase, Huen said, rising by 300 per cent. “We saw many three-to four-day tours to the Greater Bay Area,” he said, adding that there was also an increase in trips to destinations such as Wuhan and Beijing.

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James Lee is a reporter at Hong Kong Free Press with an interest in culture and social issues. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Journalism from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he witnessed the institution’s transformation over the course of the 2019 extradition bill protests and after the passing of the Beijing-imposed security law.

Since joining HKFP in 2023, he has covered local politics, the city’s housing crisis, as well as landmark court cases including the 47 democrats national security trial. He was previously a reporter at The Standard where he interviewed pro-establishment heavyweights and extensively covered the Covid-19 pandemic and Hong Kong’s political overhauls under the national security law.

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Inbound travel list updated

The Government today announced that in view of the detection of Omicron cases, Kyrgyzstan will be listed as a Group A specified place from January 16.

Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days will not be allowed to enter the city, it said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents who have stayed in that country can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised COVID-19 jab record.

Upon arrival, they must undergo 21 days of compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel, during which six virus tests have to be conducted. On the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong, they must also undergo another compulsory test in a community testing centre.

The Government will gazette the updated specifications under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation to effect the measures.

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Hong Kong Adopts Sweeping Security Laws, Bowing to Beijing

The legislation targets “external interference” and the theft of state secrets, with implications for businesses, journalists, civil servants and others.

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By Tiffany May and David Pierson

Reporting from Hong Kong

Hong Kong on Tuesday passed national security laws at the behest of Beijing, thwarting decades of public resistance in a move that critics say will strike a lasting blow to the partial autonomy the city had been promised by China.

The new legislation, which was passed with extraordinary speed, grants the authorities even more powers to crack down on opposition to Beijing and the Hong Kong government, establishing penalties — including life imprisonment — for political crimes like treason and insurrection, which are vaguely defined. It also targets offenses like “external interference” and the theft of state secrets, creating potential risks for multinational companies and international groups operating in the Asian financial center.

Analysts say the legislation, which will take effect on March 23, could have a chilling effect on a wide range of people, including entrepreneurs, civil servants, lawyers, diplomats, journalists and academics, raising questions about Hong Kong’s status as an international city.

An earlier attempt to pass such legislation, in 2003, set off mass protests involving hundreds of thousands of people.

But this time many of the opposition figures who might have challenged the legislation have either been jailed or have gone into exile since China’s ruling Communist Party, under Xi Jinping, its most powerful leader in decades, imposed the first national security law , in 2020. That law gave the authorities a powerful tool to quash dissent after months of antigovernment demonstrations engulfed the city in 2019.

Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed leader, John Lee, has said the package of new laws is needed to root out unrest and to fight what he described as Western spying. Once the laws are passed, he has said, the government can focus on the economy.

In a speech at the legislature, Mr. Lee said that the new laws would “allow Hong Kong to effectively prevent and put a stop to espionage activities, the conspiracies and traps of intelligence units and the infiltration and damage of enemy forces.”

As the bill was passed unanimously on Tuesday, lawmakers and officials called it a “historic moment.” Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s secretary for security, who oversaw the bill, likened its passage to the birth of his own son after multiple “miscarriages.”

Lawmakers had put the legislation on the fast track, holding marathon sessions over a week and working through a weekend.

“A rapid passage is meant to show people in Hong Kong the government’s resolve and ability to enforce it,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London. “The new national security bill is as much about intimidation as it is about enforcement.”

For Mr. Lee, the Hong Kong leader, “the first concern is not how people in Hong Kong or in the rest of the world see this,” Professor Tsang said. “He is performing for the audience of one — Xi himself.”

And in the eyes of Beijing, these laws are long overdue.

When Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, it was given a mini-constitution designed to protect civil liberties unknown in mainland China, such as freedom of expression, assembly and the media. But China also insisted on a provision called Article 23, which required Hong Kong to draft a package of internal security laws to replace colonial-era sedition laws.

Hong Kong’s 2003 effort to pass internal security legislation not only triggered large protests. Top officials also resigned, and in the years that followed, city leaders were reluctant to raise the matter again, for fear of public backlash.

But in recent months, the Chinese Communist Party again urged the Hong Kong government to enact Article 23 laws.

There was little chance that China’s will would not be heeded; Hong Kong’s legislature has been overwhelmingly stacked with pro-Beijing lawmakers since China overhauled the electoral system to exclude candidates who aren’t considered “patriots.”

The new laws take aim at five types of offenses: treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, sabotage and external interference. They also introduce key changes to due process. In some instances, the police may now seek permission from magistrates to prevent suspects from consulting with the lawyers of their choice, if that is deemed a threat to national security.

Human rights groups said that in swiftly passing the legislation, the authorities had reversed course on the freedoms once promised to the city.

Maya Wang, the acting China director at Human Rights Watch, said on Tuesday that the new security legislation would “usher Hong Kong into a new era of authoritarianism.” The government has criticized rights advocacy groups based overseas as “anti-China” and “anti-government” organizations.

The vague wording of some of the legislation has raised questions among legal scholars. For example, an act of espionage, under the new laws, could include the passing of any information or document that is considered “useful to an external force.” Such a broad definition could discourage legitimate exchanges with diplomats, Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, wrote in a submission to the government last month.

Professor Young also objected to the legislation’s sweeping definition of “sedition,” which includes an intent to “bring disaffection” against the state or its institutions. Disaffection is “an emotional state of too low a threshold to be the subject of a crime,” he wrote.

“It is not a crime to simply feel this way,” he added.

The legislation also empowers the city’s leader, known as the chief executive, to make new, related laws, which can carry penalties of up to seven years in prison, without going through the legislature. The leader would consult the cabinet before enacting any such law; the legislative council, known as the LegCo, would be able to amend or reject the law later.

Such a mechanism would not be new to Hong Kong, but it raises the potential for abuse, given how broadly written the new legislation is, said Thomas E. Kellogg, the executive director of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University.

“This is deeply disturbing,” Professor Kellogg wrote in an email. “The LegCo is handing the chief executive the power to expand the law even further, in ways that could further infringe on basic rights.”

Hong Kong, known just a few years ago for its boisterous political opposition, now more closely resembles mainland China, where dissent can carry a high cost. During the recent sessions over the new security legislation, lawmakers mostly suggested changes that would make it even tougher.

“They seem to be looking for ways to signal their fealty to the government’s national security agenda, and to ensure that they are demonstrating no daylight between themselves and the government,” Professor Kellogg said.

Discussion of the bill illustrated the city’s new political landscape and the murkiness of the new boundaries around speech.

Lawmakers asked if possession of old copies of Apple Daily, a now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper, would be an offense. (A security official said it would depend on whether there was “seditious intent.”) A government adviser said that priests who heard confessions about national security offenses like treason could themselves be charged under the new laws if they did not report what they heard. (The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said the church recognized that citizens had an obligation to ensure national security, but that confessions would remain confidential.)

The legislation’s vague wording — for example, in how it defines offenses like the theft of state secrets — is comparable to language found in security legislation in mainland China. And someone who shares “information that appears to be confidential matter,” even if it is not classified as a state secret, could be punished if that person intended to endanger national security, in the eyes of the authorities.

Business leaders in Hong Kong say such changes could raise the cost of operating in the city by requiring companies to scrutinize documents and other information shared by employees, to ensure that they do not inadvertently violate the new legislation.

One risk is that Hong Kong’s comparative business advantage over the mainland could be eroded, said Johannes Hack, the president of the German Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

“Part of the unique value Hong Kong has for Western (German) stakeholders is the openness of the city, and we feel the balance between openness and the desire for security needs to be well calibrated,” he wrote in a message on WhatsApp.

Olivia Wang contributed reporting.

Tiffany May is a reporter based in Hong Kong, covering the politics, business and culture of the city and the broader region. More about Tiffany May

David Pierson covers Chinese foreign policy and China’s economic and cultural engagement with the world. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about David Pierson

Beijing vows to ‘resolutely counter-attack’ any US visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials over Article 23 domestic national security law

• Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warns US over possible travel restrictions floated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken
• War of words follows US report criticising new domestic national security law, as Wang urges Washington to understand 'one country, two systems' governing principle

Beijing has vowed to "resolutely counter-attack" any potential moves by the US to impose visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials over the enactment of the city's domestic national security law .

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned against the curbs on Monday, three days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was considering imposing travel restrictions on Hong Kong officials deemed "responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms".

Wang said Beijing was strongly opposed to Blinken's "so-called report", which he labelled "irresponsible", and had already made its concerns clear to Washington.

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"[The United States] confused right and wrong, as well as seriously interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," he said at a press briefing in Beijing.

Blinken made the comments in a press statement about an annual report submitted to the US Congress as part of the country's Hong Kong Policy Act, which was enacted in 1992. The act gives Washington discretion to treat the city separately from mainland China in areas such as trade and economic engagement.

Wang added that the US had "also seriously violated the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations".

"If the US imposes visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials, China will resolutely counter-attack," he warned.

Wang said the report smeared the city's national security laws and electoral system, as well as its "democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedoms".

He urged the US to understand the "one country, two systems" governing principle, adding that Washington should respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law.

Blinken said on Friday that the new domestic national security law had "broad and vaguely defined provisions regarding 'sedition', 'state secrets', and interactions with foreign entities", which he claimed could be used to eliminate dissent inside and outside the city as part of what he called China's "ongoing campaign of transnational repression".

Washington-funded Radio Free Asia quits Hong Kong, citing staff safety concerns

In a report published that day, the US State Department said Beijing had taken "new actions that directly threaten US interests in Hong Kong" and Americans living in the city faced "heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion or prosecution" if they publicly criticised China.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect on March 23, fulfilling Hong Kong's obligations under Article 23 of the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

Hong Kong authorities earlier also condemned the US for "untruthful remarks, slanders and smears", as well as its "political attacks".

On Monday, pro-Beijing representatives staged a protest outside the US consulate in Hong Kong to oppose the potential visa restrictions.

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