Hong Kong: Tips for Trips and Study Abroad
Be Aware. Be Smart. Be Safe.
Hong Kong has experienced over two months of protests - the largest protests the city has ever had. Groups sometimes as large as a million people have gathered to protest against what they feel is China's infringement on their local government and rights. Most of the protests have been peaceful, but some have turned confrontational or resulted in violent clashes. There have been times the protests and confrontations have spilled over into neighborhoods other than those where the police have permitted marches or rallies. These demonstrations, which can take place with little or no notice, are likely to continue.
Protests
- Avoid areas with large gatherings.
- Avoid wearing black or in any other way associating with the protesters.
- Avoid passing through MTR stations that are near planned protest areas.
- Keep track of protest activities by following the links below and monitoring local media.
- See the Hong Kong Live Map
Tech
The Chinese government has publicly declared that it regularly monitors private email traffic and internet browsing. Remove personal and sensitive information from your devices before leaving your home country. If you bring personal technology, keep them in your possession at all times. Assume that the Chinese government has access to everything on every one of your devices, and use them accordingly. Because of the civil unrest, the Chinese government has focused extra attention on monitoring messaging apps and identifying students and young people who express opinions about the protests.
More Resources
- Traveler Toolkit
- Students Abroad
- Surviving a Protest
- Hong Kong Crime and Safety Report
- List of available hospitals
Emergency Services: 999
U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong
26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
(852) 2523-9011
acshk@state.gov
U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Tips for Trips and Study Abroad Flyer
More UC Davis Travel Security Resources and Reminders
International Travel Policy Requirements
- Registration of trips outside the U.S.
- Approval for trips to High Threat Countries
Please note: Trip registration is automatically included for trips booked through AggieTravel (Connexxus). If you book your travel elsewhere, you’ll need to register through UC Away, which takes about a minute.
At no cost, trip registration provides UC Davis travelers and companions traveling on university business with comprehensive benefits, including emergency evacuation, medical care, travel alerts, and reimbursement for property loss and trip delays.
International Travel Resources
Registering travel and utilizing travel tips and resources puts in place extra protections that alert you to an impending emergency or help you during a potential emergency. UC Davis Global Affairs supports international travelers at all stages of their trips, including with trip planning.
Additional Travel Resources
- Travel Medicine Program – provides no-cost vaccine administration and travel medications.
- Field Research Safety Program – provides training, equipment and guidance to support researchers working outdoors.
- Passport Services – provides on-campus passport photo and processing services for business or personal travel.
- Tips for Safe and Secure Travels – general tips, and safety and security resources, to assist with trip planning.
- Emergency Contact Information – contact information and guidelines in case of emergency.