Hong Kong protests: What travellers to the city need to know

Q: What should travellers do when there are demonstrations?

A: Erika Weisbrod, director of security solutions for Americas-based clients at International SOS, says that while she understands some tourists might be inclined to go to demonstrations to watch or take pictures and videos, she cautions against protest sightseeing.

"Though most of them have been peaceful, there have been some scuffles, and there have been some incidents where police have used pepper spray or batons on the protesters," Weisbrod says. "It's still always our bottom-line advice to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution."

Ridley said visitors should stay vigilant by reading local news in the morning and using notifications provided by an employer or travel agency, if that applies. Large-scale protests have typically been announced in advance, but in some cases, there is little warning of demonstrations organized by activists in online forums and messaging apps.

"The protests since June 12 have seen activists use different tactics - frequently moving between locations or temporarily blocking roads, for example - so it is advisable to avoid likely protests venues to the extent possible to minimise exposure to any demonstrations that occur," Ridley said in his email.

If people do find themselves in the vicinity of a protest, Weisbrod said, they should relocate quickly. Visitors should follow commands of police or other authorities: "If police are saying, 'Move away from this area' or 'Don't go down this street,' the most important thing to do is comply with those directives," she says.

Without a clear path to get away, Ridley said, tourists should stay inside or find a nongovernment building and avoid the main lobby area.

Q: What has the effect been on tourists?

A: Some rail stations have closed temporarily because of the activity, and marches and roadblocks have disrupted ground transportation, potentially interfering with visitors' ability to move through the city. Airport access has not been a problem.

"For most travellers, travel can continue as normal," Weisbrod says.

Popular tourist sites have not been a direct focus of any of the protests, but, Ridley said, some demonstrations have been near areas where travellers might go. Monday's protest march, for example, covered roads in the Wan Chai district, and government officials closed off the area around the Golden Bauhinia Square attraction. The area is full of bars and restaurants, so any roadblocks or traffic snarls are disruptive.

"Protests that have turned violent have primarily taken place at the Legislative Council, Central Government Complex and nearby roads in the Admiralty neighborhood," he says. "These sites are near several international hotel brands and popular shopping centres on Hong Kong Island."

Even if travelers are staying near areas where protests are taking place, Ridley said, the activists' focus on government buildings and roadblocks means those visitors should not feel much of an effect.

Q: What are foreign governments telling their citizens about visiting Hong Kong?

A: Smart Traveller has not changed its overall level of advice from the lowest risk level of "exercise normal safety precautions" However, In an update from June 12 it states: "You may encounter demonstrations or protests. Avoid large public gatherings, as they may turn violent."

In a demonstration alert issued Monday, the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao listed areas where protesters were gathering, warned of some road closings and blocked areas and cautioned that recent protests had "intermittently turned confrontational."

The alert said Americans in Hong Kong should avoid the areas where the protests were taking place, use caution if unexpectedly ending up around a demonstration, monitor local press for updated information and "keep a low profile."

The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave a heads-up on June 28 that a protest was expected on Monday.

"Further demonstrations may take place in the coming weeks, particularly around government buildings, and large sections of the city may be closed off and public transport affected," the advisory said. "The situation remains unpredictable, so you should remain vigilant and keep up to date with developments."

Q: What is it like to be in Hong Kong right now?

A: Clarissa Wei, a journalist based in Hong Kong, says the day-to-day rhythm of life has been unaffected, with public transportation working normally. When the transit system, known as the MTR, skips one or more stops because of protests, there is notice.

"While small and dense, Hong Kong as a whole is largely peaceful; the violence seen online and on TV is isolated and sporadic, and travellers haven't been affected much," Wei said in an email. "I personally work and commute through the center of the city on the daily, have flown in and out multiple times in the course of the month, and haven't encountered any disturbances at all."

She added: "It's important to note that all of the violent incidents and the anger are directed at a specific cause, and the general public and travellers are not targets or in any danger."

Q: How many tourists visit Hong Kong?

A: According to numbers from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, nearly 30 million people visited the city between January and May. The vast majority, about 23.5 million, were from mainland China, while nearly 3.6 million were from nearby countries such as Japan and the Philippines. Another 1.9 million were "long-haul" travellers, with about 251,000 from Australia, 540,000 from the United States and 259,000 from the United Kingdom, among other places. The overall numbers represent a 15 per cent increase over the same time period in 2018, most of it driven by growth from mainland China.

Tourism experts are concerned that the protests might slow arrivals from mainland China, the South China Morning Post reported.

"The vast bulk of people like destinations that seem to be calm, seem to be safe," Brian King, associate dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told the newspaper. "Any disturbance, or political or natural disaster, will deter some people from traveling. It will have some impact."

The Washington Post