On April 12, the U.S. State Department raised the travel advisory level for Hong Kong to Level 2: Exercise increased caution.
The change stems from Hong Kong’s new national security legislation passed on March 23, 2024.
On April 12, the U.S. State Department increased the travel advisory level for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong SAR”) from Level 1: Exercise normal precautions to Level 2: Exercise increased caution due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” According to the State Department, the change stemmed from Hong Kong’s new national security legislation. Canada, Australia, and Taiwan have also recently revised their travel advisories for Hong Kong for the same reason.
The State Department’s travel warning for China, which recently made significant amendments to its Anti-Espionage Law, remains at Level 3: Reconsider travel.
Many U.S. colleges and universities reference the State Department’s travel advisories in their policies on international travel, including study abroad. U.S. institutions with educational programs in Hong Kong SAR will want to consult their institutional policies to determine how the travel advisory change may affect their activities there. They should also ensure that any faculty, staff, or students traveling to Hong Kong SAR are aware of the potential risks referenced in the travel advisory and are provided with proper pre-departure orientation and training.