TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Tuesday (June 11) said the risks of traveling to Hong Kong and Macau have increased with the implementation of new security laws.
The MAC said there have been several reports of Taiwanese being stopped by Hong Kong police on the streets and in the subways, with demands to show identification and search their belongings. It said that according to local laws and regulations in Hong Kong and Macau, police officers can now stop and request identification from individuals exhibiting “suspicious behavior” at any time and place, to “prevent, detect, or investigate crimes.”
In one incident on May 30, a group of Taiwanese tourists were suddenly stopped by police at Hong Kong's Tung Chung Station and asked to present their IDs, bags, and wallets for inspection, reported TVBS. The officers asked them where they had just gone and where they were headed, used their mobile phones to take photos of the Taiwanese passports, and gave no reason why the search was conducted.
The MAC warned that in such cases, failure to present identification or comply with a search could constitute a legal violation. The MAC advises Taiwanese to be aware of the situation and potential risks in Hong Kong and Macau, to carry their passports, Hong Kong entry permits, and other identification documents at all times, and to avoid inadvertently violating local laws and regulations. In the case of emergencies, they can contact the MAC's offices in Hong Kong and Macau for assistance.
To enhance the safety and protection of Taiwanese citizens, the MAC has established a “Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao emergency service information and travel warning area” section on its official website. This section provides information on "precautions when traveling to or transiting through Hong Kong and Macau," reminding citizens that the regulations regarding items allowed for entry and exit in Hong Kong and Macau differ.
For example, arriving passengers should not carry prohibited items such as pepper spray, stun guns, and expandable batons.
It warned the risks associated with traveling to Hong Kong and Macau have increased following the implementation of Hong Kong's Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and the Hong Kong national security law. The MAC continues to monitor related law enforcement situations, discloses relevant case information on its website, and reminds citizens to be aware of potential personal safety risks and to take necessary precautions.
The MAC also advises citizens to check the information on its website before traveling to Hong Kong and Macau. Before departure, they should register their personal details and contact information in the "Dynamic registration system for Taiwanese Citizens traveling to Hong Kong and Macau," to enable the government to provide timely assistance.
The MAC said its Hong Kong and Macau offices have 24-hour emergency contact numbers. Taiwanese nationals, business people, or expatriates who encounter issues in Hong Kong can call the emergency assistance hotline at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong at 852-6143-9012.
Taiwanese who encounter issues in Macau can call the emergency assistance hotline at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macau at 853-6687-2557.
