Canada’s Global Affairs Department refreshed its travel advice for Hong Kong on 22 July, maintaining the overall risk level at “exercise a high degree of caution” but adding important clarifications on visas, digital-device checks and demonstration laws. The advisory reiterates that Canadians may enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to 90 days for business or tourism, yet stresses that anyone transiting to mainland China must secure a PRC visa in advance. The update also highlights expanded electronic screening at land crossings with Shenzhen, warning travellers that officers may inspect mobile phones and laptops for content deemed seditious under Hong Kong’s national-security legislation. For mobility and relocation teams the message is two-fold. First, assignees should build extra time into itineraries when crossing the border—particularly through the soon-to-open Huanggang joint-checkpoint—because officers can request on-the-spot password access. Second, companies running meetings in Hong Kong must coach visiting staff on local protest restrictions; attending or filming unauthorised demonstrations can trigger arrest. Notably, Ottawa added new language on gender-identifier ‘X’ passports, advising non-binary travellers to verify acceptance with airlines and Hong Kong immigration before departure. While Hong Kong accepts the documents, some carrier reservation systems do not, potentially causing boarding-gate delays. The advisory comes in peak summer-travel season, with approximately 20 per cent more Canadian passport holders expected to transit via Hong Kong International Airport compared with 2025. Travel-risk firms recommend that employers distribute the advisory to staff and ensure corporate travel insurance explicitly covers electronic-device seizure or data loss.
