US State Dept warning on travel to or transiting Hong Kong

[tomlee1986]

Yes, it could but the possible consequences are a bit different wouldn’t you think? Hence the warning.

Most people still seem to believe this law is over reaction as it is the same in Australian airports, but as I kept saying - it is on the streets of HK, not about airports AND without warrant from a judge, and if refuse, you can end up in jail for 1 year in HK!!

 

[HMcM]

But the reality is the average visitor is fine. No different to visiting mainland China.

The thing is though that people still think of Hong Kong as different than mainland China. I know a whole lot of people who would transit through HKG but would not under any conditions step foot onto mainland China. Those people are getting a well needed wake up call from this.

 

[tomlee1986]

The thing is though that people still think of Hong Kong as different than mainland China. I know a whole lot of people who would transit through HKG but would not under any conditions step foot onto mainland China. Those people are getting a well needed wake up call from this.

Sadly you are correct , now HK & mainland China is one and same, that one country and 2 systems are eroding… hence the warnings from both USA and now Australia government

 

[OATEK]

HKG was my most common Asian connection to Europe for the 15 years or so up to Covid. As a couple in our 70s, we have made a risk assessment of the consequences of tripping over the HK Security Law, and decided against resuming flights through HKG. SIN has become our transit/stopover point since Covid.

 

[kamchatsky]

The stats suggest otherwise.

27% increase in Australians going to HKG. Yes, that would include expats but that would not account for the huge increase.

Published only a few days ago.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/australia-hong-kong-tourism

Both can be true. Yes it has 27% increase in Aussies visiting HK from 2024. Then again, HK numbers was only just recovered from very low numbers from the Covid times. Most people i know who go to HKG are ex HKers (who are also Aussie citizens) plus their Aussie kids, who haven’t been back to HK since Covid times, or mainland Chinese who decided to stopover at HK before heading to China.

Since 2019, I don’t know anyone who are not Chinese deliberately go to HKG as destination for holiday. At most they would stopover at HKG before going to other places like Europe, or Japan etc.

Given the Gulf War i think HK visiting numbers would increase this year, because at least it is seen as a “safer” option as stopover point.