Hong Kong Travel Risk Overview
Is Hong Kong safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Hong Kong scores 27/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Hong Kong Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 4 Sep 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Hong Kong has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 27 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); city-level files are available for 12 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Hong Kong, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Hong Kong assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Hong Kong currently maintains a moderate risk level with a baseline composite score of 27 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level 2. Additionally, there is a CDC Level 1 Global Dengue notice, and local authorities have stepped up arrival checks following a Siberian lab worker's death.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
How safe is Hong Kong to visit in 2026?
Hong Kong currently sits at 27/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine in Hong Kong with normal preparation, but a few risk categories warrant attention. The full live US State Department advisory text for Hong Kong, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Hong Kong, Kowloon, Sha Tin), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: security (35/100) and natural hazards (35/100).
Hong Kong's score of 27 is higher than the scores of 18% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | Editorial regional baseline 2026-05-15 (GPI + State Dept advisory + WHO health/transport + INFORM disaster) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-18 02:25:55 |
| City files | 12 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Exercise increased cautionwhen traveling to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Exercise increased…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Hong Kong. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Hong Kong’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Hong Kong set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office in the UK. The authorities in Hong Kong no longer accept BN(O) passports for immigration clearance and do not recognise them as valid proof of identity. Passport validity requirements Your passport must be valid for at least one month after the date you plan to leave Hong Kong. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied en
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Apr 1, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
What Changed This Month in Hong Kong
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 1, 2026 Advisory Change US State Dept travel advisory updated from Level 2 to Level 1.
- Sep 4, 2026 Advisory Change US State Dept travel advisory updated from Level 3 to Level 2.
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 15, 2026 Score Change Kowloon risk score moved from 31 to 32 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Sep 27, 2026 Score Change Central District risk score moved from 24 to 31 (Method change: scoring v2).
- Sep 27, 2026 Score Change Cheung Chau risk score moved from 24 to 32 (Method change: scoring v2).
City Risk Files in Hong Kong
Showing 12 destination files with city-specific safety data in Hong Kong, ranked by demand and population.
Hong Kong
Tier AHong Kong
Kowloon
Tier AHong Kong
Sha Tin
Tier BHong Kong
San Tung Chung Hang
Tier BHong Kong
Sha Kok Mei
Tier BHong Kong
Sai Kung Tuk
Tier BHong Kong
Kowloon City
Tier BHong Kong
Sham Shui Po
Tier BHong Kong
Tin Shui Wai
Tier BHong Kong
Central District
Tier BHong Kong
Tsing Yi Town
Tier BHong Kong
Lam Tin
Tier BHong Kong
All towns in Hong Kong (11 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Hong Kong
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Hong Kong - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Hong Kong’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Hong Kong changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
Advice for women travellers
Personal attacks, including sexual assaults, are rare but do happen, including by drink spiking. Do not leave drinks unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers. Women travelling alone, or with other females, could be at greater risk. See advice for women travelling abroad.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 1 Apr 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
National security laws
The 2020 National Security Law (NSL) includes offences such as:
secession
subversion
organisation and perpetration of terrorist activities
collusion with a foreign country
The 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance includes offences such as:
treason
sedition
unlawful disclosure of state secrets
external interference endangering national security
National security laws can be interpreted broadly and some offences can lead to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Individuals and organisations can be prosecuted and are required to comply with national security investigations, including sharing full access to electronic devices.
The national security laws apply to activities taking place inside and outside Hong Kong, including in the UK. The national security laws apply to all individuals regardless of nationality or residency.
Hong Kong’s National Security Police have issued arrest warrants and financial rewards against individuals living outside Hong Kong, including in the UK under the 2020 National Security Law.
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 1 Apr 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Hong Kong’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Hong Kong set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office in the UK.
The authorities in Hong Kong no longer accept BN(O) passports for immigration clearance and do not recognise them as valid proof of identity.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for at least one month after the date you plan to leave Hong Kong.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 1 Apr 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched Hong Kong as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong steps up Russia arrival checks after Siberian lab worker’s death
Bangkok Post · 2d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:15:45 UTC
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Hong Kong
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- Safety Can air quality influence patient safety? - IQAir www.iqair.com · Sep 16, 2026 03:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Hong Kong - Market Insights - The Global Legal Post www.globallegalpost.com · Sep 15, 2026 16:18 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety Hong Kong must put child safety on the development agenda - South China Morning Post www.scmp.com · Sep 15, 2026 03:30 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Trade Union Advocates Protest the Sentencing of Tiananmen Square Vigil Organizers in Hong Kong - dominotheory.com dominotheory.com · Sep 14, 2026 14:24 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety Ensuring building safety in Hong Kong an uphill struggle - South China Morning Post www.scmp.com · Sep 13, 2026 03:30 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Hong Kong Tiananmen activists jailed for up to 7 years - DW.com www.dw.com · Sep 12, 2026 04:21 UTC · via Googlenews
- General ‘Don’t Play With Fire’ Review: An Incendiary 1980s Hong Kong - The New York Times www.nytimes.com · Sep 11, 2026 07:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety Hong Kong police arrest 2 tourists over graffiti on MTR Corp train carriages - South China Morning Post www.scmp.com · Sep 11, 2026 04:07 UTC · via Googlenews
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Hong Kong
The most weather-stable two-month window for Hong Kong is February–March, when typical daily temperatures run from about 15°C to 23°C and monthly rain averages 60 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in May–August; typhoon season in May–November; monsoon in May–August. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 7, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Hong Kong
Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Consulate General of Nepal and 3 other embassies are mapped in Hong Kong.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 999 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 999 |
| Fire | 999 |
| General emergency | 999 |
Backfilled from the public international emergency-number registry. The GSM standard 112 (and 911 in the Americas) is redirected to local emergency services on mobile networks in most countries. Verify locally on arrival.
Latest AI-assisted briefing for Hong Kong
Hong Kong maintains an active Level 2 travel advisory from international partners including the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, indicating a moderate baseline safety posture. Visitors should account for prevailing government advisories and localized legal frameworks while planning their itinerary.
Top risk drivers
-
Official Advisory Level 2 Posture
· advisory
Multiple international governments maintain a Level 2 travel advisory urging increased caution for visitors to Hong Kong.
-
No airport transfer planned
· Transport
Unsolicited taxis are a recurring scam vector at major airports.
-
No travel insurance
· Money/Health
Out-of-pocket costs after illness or theft can be significant.
-
Crime exposure
· Crime
Pickpocketing and tourist-targeted scams are common in busy areas.
-
Personal preparation
· Readiness
Preparedness can reduce the impact of small incidents.
Recent intelligence
- Hong Kong travel safety: US advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) [source]
- As of October 2026, Hong Kong has 11 government travel advisories on record [source]
- Australian Government travel advice for Hong Kong local safety, laws and health risks [source]
Live intelligence cited 8 public-source snippets. Every claim above is grounded in one of them — verify any specific detail by following the snippet links on the full assessment page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hong Kong safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe with normal precautions. Hong Kong has a few categories that warrant planning — read the breakdown below and check the live US State Department advisory. Composite baseline: 27/100 (Moderate risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Hong Kong?
The current US State Department advisory level for Hong Kong is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Hong Kong in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Hong Kong is 27/100 (Moderate risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Hong Kong?
City-specific files for Hong Kong are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Hong Kong were last reviewed on May 18, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Hong Kong?
February–March is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Hong Kong is February–March, when typical daily temperatures run from about 15°C to 23°C and monthly rain averages 60 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Hong Kong?
heavy rain season: May–August; typhoon season: May–November; monsoon: May–August.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.