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Visa requirements, security, medical & other essential information
The following information will give you the basic facts you need to know before starting out on your trip. Visa requirements, security concerns, local medical facilities and laws vary tremendously across the Asia Pacific region, so it is important that you know the facts for your destination and don't arrive without a visa or inadvertently break a local law! The information on this page is intended to give you an overview - please be sure to confirm entry requirements with your travel agent when purchasing your ticket.
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since July 1, 1997, has a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy, and retains its own currency, laws, and border controls.
It is composed of three geographic areas: the New Territories, Kowloon Peninsula, and Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong SAR is cosmopolitan and highly developed. Tourist facilities and services are widely available.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
A visa is not required for tourist visits of up to 90 days. An extension of stay may be granted upon application to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department. Visas are required to work or study in Hong Kong.
Visitors should obtain all required visas prior to departing home. Specifically, visitors wishing to travel to the PRC from Hong Kong require a PRC visa and should apply at the nearest PRC Embassy.
A passport with a minimum of six months validity remaining and evidence of onward/return transportation by sea/air are required. Visitors who arrive in Hong Kong with an expired or damaged passport may be refused entry and returned home at their own expense.
A departure tax and an airport security tax must be paid at the airport, unless these have been included in the traveler’s airfare. Public transportation from Hong Kong's International Airport at Chek Lap Kok to Central Hong Kong (about 25 miles) is readily available, as are taxis.
Travelers should exchange sufficient money for transportation at the airport exchange facility located immediately outside the baggage claim area.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Although there have been no terrorist incidents in Hong Kong, visitors are reminded of a heightened risk of attack by terrorists. These individuals and groups have proved that they do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.
Because security awareness has been elevated in Western countries, terrorists may target western interests overseas. Visitors should be aware of the potential risks when making travel plans and should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise caution.
There have recently been cases where both local and foreign hikers have been robbed/beaten in country parks and Victoria Peak. Visitors should be extremely vigilant when walking in these areas and should travel in groups.
CRIME:
Hong Kong SAR has a low crime rate. Travelers should exercise caution when in congested areas and pay particular attention to personal belongings while in crowded markets and while traveling around Hong Kong on public transportation. Violent crime, though rare, does occur in Hong Kong and Macau.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
The loss or theft abroad of passport should be reported immediately to the local police. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact your Embassy or Consulate for assistance.
The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Good medical facilities are available, and there are many Western-trained physicians in Hong Kong. Doctors and hospitals generally do not accept credit cards and require immediate cash payment for health services. Many health insurance providers do not cover their subscribers overseas. Visitors should check with their health insurance provider prior to travel.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
You are advised to consult with your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether your policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those at home. The information below concerning Hong Kong is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
In Hong Kong, traffic moves on the left. During the daytime, traffic congests Hong Kong's urban areas. Each year, some 21,000 drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are injured or killed in traffic accidents in Hong Kong.
Speed limits are 50 kilometers per hour in urban areas and 80 kilometers per hour on highways unless otherwise marked. The use of seat belts in vehicles, if so equipped, is mandatory both in the front and back seats. The maximum penalty for dangerous driving causing death can be a fine of $50,000 HK ($6,500 US), imprisonment for five years and disqualification from driving for not less than two years on first conviction.
At the scene of a traffic accident, drivers are required to undergo alcohol level testing. Any driver found exceeding the prescribed limit of blood alcohol level may face prosecution under Hong Kong law. The use of hand-held cellular phones while driving in Hong Kong is strictly prohibited.
A breach of this law can lead to a maximum fine of $2,000 HK ($260 US). However, motorists can use “hand-free devices,” such as headphones and speakerphones. Hong Kong law requires that all registered vehicles carry valid third-party liability insurance. The emergency number for local emergency assistance is 999.
About 90 percent of the population in Hong Kong depends on public transport. Taxis, buses, and the mass transit railway (MTR) are readily available, inexpensive, and generally safe. The MTR is an underground railway network and is the most popular mode of public transport, carrying an average of 2.3 million passengers a day.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Hong Kong as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of Hong Kong’s air carrier operations.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS:
Hong Kong SAR customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Hong Kong of controlled items such as firearms and ammunition, ivory, narcotics, medications, animals and plants, meat and poultry, textiles, and sensitive high-technology or military products.
Travelers bringing such goods into Hong Kong without a license may be prosecuted and the goods may be seized. The penalty for trafficking in dangerous drugs can be life imprisonment and a heavy fine. Other items that travelers must declare to customs officials are liquors, tobacco, cigarettes and cigars, methyl alcohol, and merchandise imported for commercial purposes.
There are no currency restrictions for travelers. Please visit the web site of the Hong Kong Department of Customs and Excise : http://www.info.gov.hk/customs for specific information regarding Hong Kong customs requirements.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, a visitor is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those at home and may not afford the protections available to the individual at home.
Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in your home country for similar offenses. Persons violating Hong Kong laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Hong Kong are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
