The Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) System aims to help people better understand the risk or threat to personal safety in travelling to 60 countries that are the more popular travel destinations for Hong Kong residents (HKRs). When there are signs of threat in a place that may affect the personal safety of HKRs, the Security Bureau will assess and consider the need to issue an OTA taking into account factors such as the nature (e.g. whether it is targeted at travellers), level and duration of the threat.

OTA currently in force:

OTA		Countries (Click country below for supplementary information)
Severe threat	Avoid all travel	Nil
Significant threat	Adjust travel plans Avoid non-essential travel	Nil
Signs of threat	Monitor situation Exercise caution	Greece Indonesia Iran Nepal Pakistan Philippines Thailand

For travel advices or related information on foreign countries, you may also visit the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, or the databases compiled by the Australian, Canadian and the UK governments:

Outbound Travel Alert of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (Chinese only)


Travel Advisories of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (English only)

Travel Reports and Warnings of Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (English only)

Travelling and Living Overseas of British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (English only)

For information on travel to other parts of China, you may visit:

Travel Alert of National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China (Chinese only)

Other Useful Links:

Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of Immigration Department

Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health

Travel Health Service of the Department of Health

Hong Kong Observatory

Tourism Commission

Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong

Relevant Press Releases from Security Bureau

1. The existence of OTA may affect matters such as the arrangement of an outbound tour or the coverage of an insurance policy. Individuals concerned should find out the relevant arrangements before entering into any contracts with or purchasing any products or services from the service providers or suppliers.

2. Employers and employees are encouraged to come up with a prior work arrangements or understanding on the need for the latter to undertake business visits to a place where an OTA is in force. For details, please see Guide to Good People Management Practices of the Labour Department.

3. HKRs who are abroad should pay attention to their personal safety. Those who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline (852) 1868 of the Immigration Department. For HKRs who are Chinese nationals, they may also contact the Chinese Embassy/Chinese Consulate-General in their destination. The telephone numbers and addresses of the Chinese Embassies/Chinese Consulates-General overseas can be obtained from the Immigration Department (Tel: (852) 2824 6111 or Website:
http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/topical.htm).

4. For health-related risks during outbound travel, please visit the relevant websites of the Department of Health.

HKRs are encouraged to make reference to the OTA (if any) before travelling abroad or firming up their travel plans. It is however a personal decision whether a HKR chooses to continue the journey and travel abroad. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from any cause or related to the supply or use of the OTA or other information in this website.