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U.S. Issues Travel Warning for China, Hong Kong — What to Know

The State Department designated both mainland China and Macau as “Level 3,” recommending travelers “reconsider travel” there. Hong Kong was classified as a “Level 2.”

WANG ZHAO/Getty Images

The U.S. Department of State re-issued a travel warning against heading to China, including Hong Kong and Macau, due to the possibility of being wrongfully detained and the arbitrary enforcement of laws.

The State Department designated both mainland China and Macau as “Level 3,” recommending travelers “reconsider travel” there. Hong Kong was classified as a “Level 2” city, recommending travelers “exercise increased caution” when going.

“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 wrote in its advisory, adding “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.”

In Hong Kong, the department warned China has “demonstrated an intent” to use a 2020 national security law “to target a broad range of activities such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities.”

The renewed warning comes months after China resumed issuing international tourist visas following some of the strictest COVID-19-related restrictions in the world. For its part, Hong Kong started easing travel restrictions last year and no longer requires visitors undergo any COVID-19 testing or quarantine measures.

The State Department regularly updates its travel advisories for countries all over the world, assessing the security and health situations in each country and adjusting the classification accordingly on a scale of one (which indicates travelers should exercise normal precautions) to four (which warns Americans not to travel there). Recently, the department issued similar travel warnings for both Colombia and Jamaica .

In general, the State Department recommends American travelers enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts “and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.”

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Travel resumption plans on track

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here .)

The Government has adopted stringent measures to prevent the Omicron COVID-19 variant from spreading in the community as it continues its preparation work on the resumption of quarantine-free travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the remarks ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting and noted that the city has worked hard to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

“In the case of Hong Kong, of course, we are particularly alert because we have basically attained zero infections in the local situation, and we are right at the moment preparing to resume some normal travel into the Mainland, which is the number one priority of many people in society.

“So we have to adopt very stringent measures to prevent Omicron from spreading into the community.”

Mrs Lam emphasised that Hong Kong has to date accomplished its zero infection goal and added that a delegation led by Chief Secretary John Lee will meet with Mainland officials to discuss preparations for the resumption of quarantine-free travel.

“So far, I would say that we are successful. All the seven confirmed cases of Omicron were detected during the test-and-hold arrangement at the Hong Kong International Airport or during the mandatory quarantine period. At this moment, I do not see any change to what we are doing in terms of resumption of normal travel into the Mainland as a result of Omicron.

“But because this variant and the whole situation could be changing very rapidly, I could provide no absolute guarantee.

“But it is gratifying for me to say that negotiations or discussions between the two sides, that is between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as well as the Mainland authorities, are still going on.

“Today, the Chief Secretary for Administration is leading a Hong Kong SAR Government delegation to meet with Guangdong officials and other relevant officials in Shenzhen to take forward the preparatory work.”

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The US Department of State released a new travel advisory Friday for US citizens traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau suggesting travelers “reconsider travel” to the areas due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws…and the risk of wrongful detentions.”

The advisory for mainland China states:

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.

The advisory for Hong Kong specifically mentions the country’s National Security Law , saying:

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 [semi-autonomous region] 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 move comes amidst strain between the US and China. Just this past Wednesday, China enacted a law to allow “countermeasures” against those that impose sanctions on the country. On the US side, President Joe Biden has also been slowly ramping up his language surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping. In 2022 Biden stated , “From China to Russia and beyond, they’re betting that democracy’s days are numbered.” Then in April, he stated that Xi was an “autocrat” and China was “essentially a dictatorship.” And on June 21, Biden called Xi a “dictator.”

The State Department has largely supported Biden’s remarks, with a spokesperson saying , “The President believes that diplomacy…is a responsible way to manage tensions, clear up misperceptions, avoid miscalculations…That does not mean, of course, we will not be blunt and forthright about our differences.”

The move also comes soon after a US citizen, John Shin-wan Leung , was sentenced to life in prison in May for “espionage.” His is one of many high-profile arrests in China that have raised international concerns. In 2021, China arrested Australian journalist Cheng Lei on a similar charge. Another Australian citizen, Dr. Yang Hengju , was detained in January. And two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor , were charged with “stealing state secrets” in 2020.

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US issues ‘wrongful detention’ risk warning for travellers to Hong Kong

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The US State Department has listed Hong Kong as one of the places where Americans are at risk of wrongful detention as it introduces a new risk indicator for its travel advisories.

The White House slapped its wrongful detention or “D” indicator on China, Myanmar, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela on Tuesday. The separate Hong Kong travel advisory also carries the “D” designation.

“Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions,” the State Department says in an updated Hong Kong travel advisory.

The following countries' Travel Advisories have been updated and are Level 4 – Do Not Travel: 🛑 Burma 🛑 Hong Kong 🛑 Iran 🛑 Iraq 🛑 North Korea 🛑 Russia 🛑 Venezuela To see individual Travel Advisories, click here: https://t.co/TzOrftBMyg pic.twitter.com/3iTNTnAr53 — Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) July 20, 2022

It adds: “US citizens traveling or residing in the PRC (People’s Republic of China), including the Hong Kong SAR, may be detained without access to US consular services or information about their alleged crime.”

The department had already put Hong Kong on a level 4 – Do Not Travel – alert due to Covid-19 risks and “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”

The new risk indicator came after the high-profile case of American basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for months for allegedly possessing marijuana concentrate hashish oil in her luggage. The Biden administration has classified the detention as wrongful but has been under fire for not doing more to bring Griner home.

Despite being given a “D” indicator, China remained in the third level of the State Department’s travel alert, which calls on American citizens to “reconsider travel.” The advisory cited Covid-19 restrictions, as well as arbitrary law enforcement.

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State department tells Americans to reconsider travel to Hong Kong over threat of ‘arbitrary detention’

Uk issued a similar warning to travellers, article bookmarked.

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The US State Department has issued a warning to Americans considering visiting Mainland China and Hong Kong.

In a travel advisory issued on Tuesday, Americans were told that it may be dangerous and there is a risk of “arbitrary and wrongful detentions” and “exit bans” on US citizens without due process of law.

Individuals may find they are interrogated and compelled to participate in government investigations.

The inclusion of Hong Kong is due to the enforcement of the strict new national security laws imposed by the Chinese Communist Party in June.

Previously, Americans in Hong Kong were considered outside of the reach of the authorities of Beijing.

The UK also issued a travel advisory to the territory this week that similarly mentioned the threat of arbitrary detention.

Under the new laws, China intends to target a broad range of activities it defines as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and “collusion” with foreign countries.

The new legislation also covers offences committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong. This could mean individuals who have been publicly critical of China face a heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.

Chinese security forces, including the new Office for Safeguarding National Security, now operate in Hong Kong.

Americans in Hong Kong are advised to avoid demonstrations and to keep a low profile.

The US has already suspended an extradition treaty with Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on Hong Kong officials for their part in restricting democratic freedoms.

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U.S. Warns Citizens Against Hong Kong Travel Due to Security Law

The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory on Hong Kong based on China’s implementation of a national security law widely seen as eroding freedom in the once-autonomous city.

“Since the imposition of national security legislation on July 1, the PRC unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises policy and security power in Hong Kong,” the State Department said on its website Monday, referring to the People’s Republic of China. “U.S. citizens are strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations.”

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US urges increased caution for Americans visiting Hong Kong

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HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. government on Thursday stepped up its warnings to travelers to Hong Kong because of increasing violence surrounding pro-democracy protests in the Chinese city.

The State Department’s Level 2 travel advisory issued Thursday urges “increased caution in Hong Kong due to civil unrest” and tells travelers to avoid demonstrations and to “exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.”

The protests were sparked two months ago by proposed extradition legislation that could have seen suspects sent to mainland China, where protesters say they could face torture and unfair politicized trials. They have since morphed into calls for broader democratic reforms in the former British colony, along with the resignation of Chief Executive Carrie Lam and investigations into alleged police abuse of force.

The territory’s crucial travel industry has suffered as tourists put off their visits, with Australia, Ireland, Britain and Japan having also issued travel advisories to their citizens.

Hong Kong police say 589 people have been arrested in the protests since June 9, ranging in age from 13 to 76. They face charges including rioting, which allows for prison terms of up to 10 years. Police have fired tear gas, rubber bullets and other projectiles at protesters, with demonstrators responding with metal sticks, bricks, gasoline bombs and carts full of burning debris.

On several occasions, protesters have been attacked by unknown people believed to be linked to organized crime groups, while police took little action to stop them.

The central government in Beijing so far has not visibly intervened in the situation, though in editorials and public remarks it has condemned demonstrators and protest organizers as criminals, clowns and “violent radicals” and alleged that they have been inflamed by politicians from the U.S., Taiwan and elsewhere.

On Wednesday, the head of Beijing’s Cabinet office responsible for the territory said Hong Kong was facing its “most severe situation” since its handover from British rule in 1997 and the central government was currently considering further measures.

Hong Kong was returned to China under the framework of “one country, two systems,” which promised the city political, civil and economic freedoms not allowed under Communist Party rule on the mainland. However, many Hong Kong residents feel Beijing has been increasingly encroaching on their freedoms.

Pro-democracy protesters said Thursday they plan to hold a demonstration at Hong Kong’s international airport over the weekend, along with marches elsewhere in the territory.

A protest spokesman who goes by only his surname, Chan, to avoid identification by authorities said such actions will continue until Lam addresses the movement’s demands, something she has adamantly refused to do thus far.

“The only way to regain the public’s trust in the government and the Hong Kong police force is by properly, directly and conscientiously addressing the five demands,” Chan said at a news conference where movement representatives wore helmets and face masks to conceal their features.

“The Hong Kong government’s attempts to achieve the impossible, by trying to exhaust the inexhaustible, will not prevail,” he said. “In our struggle for autonomy, democracy and the rule of law, we will continue to fight until the end.”

A police spokesman said no application for a protest at the airport had been received and urged any participants to remain peaceful.

Also Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong issued a formal protest over a reported meeting between U.S. consular officials in the city and opposition figures, including prominent activist Joshua Wong.

The statement demanded the U.S. explain the purpose of the meeting and “immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs.”

Wong was released in June after serving a two-month sentence for contempt related to his involvement in 2014 protests advocating a more democratic electoral process known as the Umbrella Movement.

In Washington, the State Department defended the diplomat’s actions and accused the Chinese government of “thuggish” behavior” for allegedly leaking her photograph and personal family information.

“I don’t think that leaking an American diplomat’s private information — pictures, names of their children — I don’t think that’s a formal protest,” spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters.

She added: “That’s not how a responsible nation would behave. Releasing any of that personal information of an American diplomat is completely unacceptable. That’s not a protest. That’s what a thuggish regime does.”

She said the political officer in question was doing “what American diplomats do every single day around the world.”

“American diplomats meet with formal government officials, meet with opposition protesters, not just in Hong Kong but in China. Our diplomat was doing her job,” Orgtagus said.

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The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia's right to develop closer ties with North Korea should not be in doubt or a source of fear for anyone, saying the potential for the two countries' relations was very deep.

Five years after the world watched pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong meet with fierce repression, authorities in the territory think they have worked out how to get tourists back – everyone needs to smile more.

Hong Kong 's tourist board has launched a campaign to promote courtesy and good service towards visitors, said Hong Kong Free Press . Starring actors Louis Koo and Ng Siu-hin, it aims to show "how we can all better demonstrate the hospitality by going the extra mile with small gestures".

But with much of the messaging targeted at hospitality and service workers, not everyone is convinced the plan is effective or fair. And the timing of the launch – the fifth anniversary of a huge protest against a security bill that allowed Hong Kong residents to be extradited for trial in mainland China – has also raised eyebrows.

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'Black sheep' 

"Unfriendly" staff at restaurants were "once viewed as a charming hallmark" of Hong Kong, said Time , but the phenomenon has increasingly been described as a "turn-off" for tourists. A survey about the city's taxi service last year also found that "rudeness" was customers' top complaint.

Culture, sports and tourism secretary Kevin Yeung blamed a "handful of black sheep" for the impolite behaviour that "tarnishes our image".

The tourism industry is also experiencing major shortages of experienced staff, because those who were laid off or returned to their home countries during the pandemic haven't yet returned.

Yeung has announced a three-pronged approach, with the Education Bureau promoting programmes to teach courtesy to students, while the Home Affairs Department will organise community activities to encourage friendliness, with rewards on offer for "good performance". Yeung hopes that the more smiley attitude and mentality can become a "part of daily life", making tourists "feel like they are at home", reported Says .

Lending his support to the campaign, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu asked all residents to take part, to "enhance" visitors' experiences. "We should be more courteous, we should be more helpful, we should smile more," he said.

'Celebrity nudging'

It's certainly true that Hong Kong has a tourism problem. Data from the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department and Tourism Board show that the city saw a peak of more than 6.7 million monthly visitor arrivals in January 2019, but by April 2024 it was attracting less than half that number.

The recovery of its tourism sector since the pandemic "lags behind" other nearby destinations like Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, said the ASEAN+3 macroeconomic research office . That's partly due to Hong Kong's "heavy reliance" on tourists from mainland China, who "held off travelling abroad after the pandemic", and partly due to the visa-free travel offered by Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore to "lure mainland visitors". The appreciation of the Hong Kong dollar against other regional currencies has also had a "discouraging effect". 

Long-haul tourists are also not returning in the same numbers because airlines have yet to restore the number of Hong Kong flights to pre-pandemic levels, said Hong Kong Free Press , which has in turn driven up the prices of remaining flights. 

But Beijing's draconian security legislation has also had a negative impact. The US, Canada and Australia have all issued travel advisory warnings for Hong Kong, citing "arbitrary" laws. 

After more harsh security legislation was passed in March, Australia updated its warning on Hong Kong: "You could be detained without charge for up to 16 days and denied access to a lawyer for up to 48 hours."

The tourism board has a "tough job of restoring Hong Kong’s allure as a tourist destination", said Annika Park in the South China Morning Post . But "rallying a cavalcade of picture-perfect celebrities to wag fingers at frontline service staff" is "not the right answer".

She is "most curious to know if any of the celebrities on the call sheet for the ads has ever worked a service role". Instead of "heaping expectations on minimum-wage workers", what if the stars "donned dirty aprons for a day to engage and empathise with the realities of frontline restaurant work?"

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  Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books. 

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China Travel Advisory

Travel advisory april 12, 2024, mainland china, hong kong & macau - see summaries.

Updated due to new national security legislation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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 Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

Reconsider travel to the Macau Special Administrative Region (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.
• 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 .

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

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

Summary: Hong Kong SAR authorities have dramatically restricted civil liberties since the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) imposed the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR on June 30, 2020. Following the Hong Kong SAR government’s enactment of its own Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, 2024, Hong Kong SAR authorities are expected to take additional actions to further restrict civil liberties.

The 2020 National Security Law outlines a broad range of vaguely defined offenses, such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance builds on this framework with additional vaguely defined offenses, such as treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, sabotage against public infrastructure, and external interference. According to the legislation, these offenses are applicable to foreign nationals within the Hong Kong SAR and to individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, located outside its borders. Under these provisions, anyone who criticizes the PRC and/or Hong Kong SAR authorities may face arrest, detention, expulsion, and/or prosecution. Hong Kong SAR authorities are attempting to enforce these provisions against individuals, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, residing outside of their jurisdiction by offering cash rewards for information leading to their arrests in the Hong Kong SAR.

Dual Nationality: 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 .

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 under the 2020 National Security Law and/or the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

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 .
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau immediately.
• Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• 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  Citybus  for updates.

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, significantly limiting the U.S. government’s ability to offer timely consular services in the Macau SAR.

Dual Nationality: 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 .

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 .
• If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify Review the China Country Security Report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.
• 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.
• Monitor local media and the Macau Government Tourism Office website for updates.
• Review your flight status with your airline or at the Macau International Airport website.

Travel Advisory Levels

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