Government reminds Hong Kong residents to attend to personal safety when travelling to Korea

     In view of the emergency martial law declared in Korea, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (December 4) reminds Hong Kong residents who are already there or intend to visit Korea to attend to personal safety. The Immigration Department (ImmD) has contacted the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA), the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea (Embassy), the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) to understand the situation. The ImmD has not received any request for assistance from Hong Kong residents so far.

     A Government spokesman said, "Residents who intend to visit Korea or are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety, avoid large gatherings of people and pay attention to local announcements on the latest situation."

     The Security Bureau (SB), in view of the emergency martial law declared, has already updated the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) webpage for Korea and will continue to closely monitor the situation there. Any update will be issued through the media, the SB mobile app and the OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota).

     The ImmD will continue to maintain close contact with the OCMFA, the Embassy, the TIA and the TIC to monitor the development.

     Hong Kong residents in Korea who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD mobile application, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline, submit the Online Assistance Request Form, contact the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea at consular protection hotline: (82) 27550572, contact the Chinese Consulate-General in Busan at consular protection hotline: (82) 1085198748, contact the Chinese Consulate-General in Gwangju at consular protection hotline: (82) 623618880 or contact the Chinese Consulate-General in Jeju at consular protection hotline: (82) 647228802. 

     Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service (www.gov.hk/roti) of the ImmD to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the ImmD to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means, including SMS on mobile phones, on a timely basis when necessary.