HONG KONG GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
City & Country
Dates of travel
Students affected
HONG KONG
July 2016 to June 2017
Study abroad students going to Hong
Kong
Prepared by
Date
Sussex Abroad Office
8th April 2016
Before you go
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice by country. It covers safety and security, local laws and customs, entry requirements,
health and natural disasters along with a host of other useful information. We strongly recommend that students read the section related to their destination
prior to departure and before undertaking any trip to another part of the county/region.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hong-kong
Visa regulations: You will apply for your visa directly via the host university
Passport visa regulations: Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.
Emergency number in Hong Kong: If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Vaccinations: Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.
Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website
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Type
Crime/security:
Nature of the Hazards
The level of violent crime is very low but
pick pocketing and other street crime can
occur. There have been some isolated
incidents of robberies in Hong Kong’s
Country Parks; these incidents have been
reduced following a crime prevention
operation by the Hong Kong Police.
Procedures to minimise risks
You should take extra care of passports, credit cards and money in crowded
areas and when checking in and out of hotels. If you intend to hike in Hong
Kong’s Country Parks you should stick to marked trails and avoid carrying
valuables.
Local travel
The typhoon season in Hong Kong
normally runs from April to October.
Typhoons sometimes hit Hong Kong and
may cause flooding and landslides. Local
warnings are issued in advance. Public
offices shut down when the ‘Typhoon 8’
signal is hoisted.
You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Hong Kong Observatory. See Tropical
Cyclones page for advice on what to do if you are caught up in a storm.
Political Situation
Hong Kong is generally a stable society
underpinned by the rule of law.
Demonstrations are becoming more
frequent, but despite the substantial
numbers, they are usually conducted in a
peaceful and orderly manner.
You should take sensible precautions against petty crime if you are nearby to a
demonstration.
Local Laws
There are on the spot fines for littering and
spitting. There is zero tolerance for
ticketless travel on the Mass Transit
Railway (MTR). Don’t take photographs of
military installations.
Drugs
Possession of drugs can lead to
imprisonment.
When out make sure anything you drink can’t be tampered with. Be wary of
accepting drinks from strangers and always have a trusted friend to keep an eye
on any unfinished drink if you need to leave it for a period of time.
Don’t become involved with illegal drugs of any kind.
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