Since late March, 2 million of Hong Kong’s 7 million people have taken to the streets to protest a controversial extradition bill. While images of police in riot gear and protesters being pepper-sprayed have dominated media coverage, they represent a tiny slice of the largely peaceful protests.
Where are the protests taking place?
The protests are mainly taking place in Hong Kong's central districts, particularly Harcourt Road and around the Legislative Council Building. Visitors should stay in other areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon at this time. Public transport services such as the MTR, buses and ferries are operating as normal.
Is it safe to travel to Hong Kong during protests?
Hong Kong remains one of the safest places in the world to travel, and the protests have not changed that. The UK Government's Overseas Travel Advisory advises visitors to "remain vigilant and keep up to date with developments." Tourists should exercise caution near areas where protests are still taking place. There are still plenty of unaffected places to explore in Hong Kong.
Many areas in Hong Kong have not been affected by the protests.
How do protests affect Hong Kong tourism?
Tourists can still visit popular attractions such as the Tian Tan Buddha on Mount Tai, the Ladies Market in Mong Kok, and view the famous skyline from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade without being affected by the protests.
Skyline view from Tsim Sha Tsui
However, if you are in the area of a protest or in the event of an escalation, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The MRT station was temporarily closed on 12 June and has since reopened and is operating normally. But in case this happens again, take the fixed public transport Tung Chung Line or Tseung Kwan O Line to cross the port, and be aware that MRT trains may be delayed.
- Some shopping malls may also be closed to avoid disruption, such as Pacific Place and IFC. If you want to shop, visit other malls such as Elements in West Kowloon and Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong.
- At the height of the protests, many protesters wore black, which led to some innocent people being targeted by the police, so it is best to avoid wearing black clothing at this time.
- Many protesters are taking personal protective measures to avoid any potential future trouble and backlash, so please respect this privacy by not taking close-up photos of them.
- If you accidentally enter the protest area, both protesters and police will help you get out.
