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Judicial Assistance Destination Information

Travel.State.Gov > Legal Resources > Judicial Assistance Destination Information  > Hong Kong judicial Assistance Information

Hong Kong

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Exercise increased caution in mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the use of exit bans without a fair and transparent process under the law, and the risk of unjust arrest or detention.

Reissued Statement: There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated.

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in mainland China and Hong Kong

Exercise increased caution in mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the use of exit bans without a fair and transparent process under the law, and the risk of unjust arrest or detention.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel to Macau

Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

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

Exercise increased caution in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Advisory summary

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

  • Hong Kong SAR authorities have passed laws that limit people’s civil liberties. The laws apply to anyone in Hong Kong, including foreigners. Authorities have also issued arrest warrants for individuals, including U.S. citizens, located outside of Hong Kong for activities undertaken overseas.
  • U.S. government employees must follow the policies established by their Department or Agency regarding official or personal travel to China, including to Hong Kong SAR.

National security laws and restriction of civil liberties

Since 2020, Hong Kong SAR authorities have taken away many freedoms from people living there.

On June 30, 2020, China imposed the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR. On March 23, 2024, Hong Kong passed another similar law. Both laws list many crimes that are vaguely defined. The crimes include:

  • Trying to break apart China (acts of secession)
  • Working against the government (subversion)
  • Terrorism
  • Working with other countries against China (collusion with foreign entities)
  • Betraying the country (treason)
  • Stealing government secrets
  • Insurrection
  • Sabotage against public infrastructure
  • External interference

On March 23, 2026, the Hong Kong government changed the implementing rules relating to the Hong Kong National Security Law. It is now a criminal offense in national security cases to refuse to give the Hong Kong police passwords or not assist in decryption to allow authorities full access to all personal electronic devices, including cellphones and laptops. 

This legal change applies to everyone, including U.S. citizens, in Hong Kong, upon arrival, or just transiting Hong Kong International Airport. In addition, the Hong Kong government also has more authority to take and keep any personal devices, as evidence, that they claim are linked to national security offenses.

China applies its national security laws to everyone in Hong Kong SAR, including foreigners. China may also attempt to apply these laws to people who do not live in Hong Kong – including U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

If you say anything critical about China or Hong Kong SAR, you could be arrested, detained, kicked out, or prosecuted.

Hong Kong SAR authorities have issued arrest warrants for people who live in other countries and are alleged to be violating these laws. This includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents living outside their jurisdiction. Hong Kong SAR authorities are offering cash rewards to anyone who gives information that helps them arrest these people if they come to Hong Kong SAR.

Dual nationality

The Hong Kong SAR government does not recognize dual nationality. Dual U.S.-Chinese citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional security procedures and harassment. If you are a dual U.S.-Chinese citizen and enter Hong Kong SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, Chinese authorities must notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention. They must allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you.

Even if you enter on a U.S. passport, U.S. consular officers may not have access to you. 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 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 Hong Kong National Security Law, the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, or other legal provisions. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations.

If you decide to travel to the Hong Kong SAR:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
  • Read the travel information page for the Hong Kong SAR.
  • Review the China Country Security Report for China.
  • Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for China.
  • Whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler, use the International Traveler’s Checklist.
  • We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Avoid demonstrations.
  • Avoid communicating, either privately or publicly, opinions or observations that might be considered embarrassing or otherwise negative about China, Hong Kong SAR, or the Chinese or Hong Kong SAR authorities.
  • 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. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau immediately.
  • Do not consume illicit drugs in Hong Kong SAR or prior to arriving in Hong Kong SAR.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
  • Monitor local media, local transportation sites, and apps like MTR Mobile or Citybus for updates.
  • Review your flight status with your airline or at the Hong Kong International Airport website.
  • Follow U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau on Facebook and X.
... [READ MORE]

Hague/Inter-American

Party to Hague Service Convention?
Yes
Party to Hague Evidence Convention?
Yes
Party to Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes
Party to Inter-American Convention?
No
Service of Process by Mail?
No

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.

 

ALL / ALL /

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau
26 Garden Road
Central, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2841-2211, +852 2841-2225, +852 2841-2323 
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +852 2523-9011 
Fax: +852 2845-4845
Email: [email protected] 

List of Attorneys

List of Attorneys - U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong Apostille Service

Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters, is in force in the Hong Kong SAR.  Complete information on the operation of the Convention, including an interactive online request form are available on the Hague Conference website.  Requests should be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of the documents to be served directly to Hong Kong Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention.  No translation of documents in English is required.  Hong Kong did not make any reservations with respect to service by international registered mail or service by agent.  However, Hong Kong advises that service by the Convention is the preferred method.  For additional information see the Hague Conference Service Convention web page and theHague Conference Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Service Convention.  See also Hong Kong’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Service Convention. 

Service on a Foreign State: See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Service of Documents from Hong Kong in the United States:  See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.

Prosecution Requests: U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance. 

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters: The U.S. Department of State expects criminal defendants, or their defense counsel, who wish to request judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters to make such requests via the letters rogatory process. 

The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters is force for the Hong Kong SAR.  See the Hague Evidence Convention Model Letters of Request for guidance on preparation of the letter of request.  Requests for the compulsion of evidence under the Hague Evidence Convention are transmitted directly from the requesting court or person in the United States to the Hong Kong Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention.  Letters of Request and accompanying documents should be prepared in duplicate and do not require translation from English.  See Hong Kong’s Declarations and Reservations regarding the Hague Evidence Convention.  See also Hong Kong’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Hague Evidence Convention.   

Requests from Hong Kong to Obtain Evidence in the United States:  The U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention is the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L Street N.W., Room 8102, Washington, D.C. 20530.

In Hong Kong, consular officers may take voluntary depositions of U.S. citizen witnesses without prior permission from Hong Kong authorities, provided no compulsion is used. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. Consulate General directly. Consistent with Hong Kong’s declarations and reservations regarding the Hague Evidence Convention, consular officers are prohibited from taking voluntary depositions of non-U.S. citizen witnesses. As an alternative, if prior permission is granted by Hong Kong’s Competent Authority, voluntary depositions may be conducted by commissioners in Hong Kong regardless of the nationality of the witness, provided no compulsion is used.

The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents is in force in the Hong Kong SAR. Hong Kong’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention will authenticate Hong Kong public documents with Apostilles.  For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Argentina, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.  To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.

Last Updated: June 13, 2018

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau
26 Garden Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Telephone
+(852) 2841-2211, +(852) 2841-2225, +(852) 2841-2323
Emergency
+(852) 2523-9011
Fax
+(852) 2845-4845
Email
[email protected]
Website
https://hk.usconsulate.gov/

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