American travelers heading to Hong Kong have been warned of a new rule that gives police the power to demand the passwords to their cellphones and laptops, and refusing could land them in jail.
The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong issued a security alert on Thursday, March 26, after the Hong Kong government quietly changed the rules for its National Security Law on March 23.
Under the updated rules, it is now a criminal offense to refuse to give police your passwords or to refuse to help them decrypt personal electronic devices, including phones, laptops, and other gadgets.
The warning applies to everyone in Hong Kong, residents, visitors, and even people just passing through Hong Kong International Airport on a layover. U.S. citizens are not exempt.
“It is now a criminal offense to refuse to give the Hong Kong police the passwords or decryption assistance to access all personal electronic devices, including cellphones and laptops,” the consulate said in its alert.
Authorities also gained broader power to seize and hold onto devices they claim are tied to national security cases.
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Penalties for saying no can include up to one year in prison and a fine of about HK$100,000, which works out to roughly $12,800. Giving false or misleading information carries even stiffer punishment.
The changes come as part of a wider crackdown under the National Security Law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after massive pro-democracy protests.
Officials bypassed the local legislature to push through the amendments, which expand what police can demand during investigations into anything they label a threat to national security.
Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang told lawmakers earlier this week that the rules do not allow officers to randomly stop people on the street and demand phone passwords.
But the U.S. alert makes clear the risk is real for travelers, especially anyone whose device might contain messages, photos, contacts, or data that could draw official scrutiny.
The development, according to media reports, has led business travelers who once routed through Hong Kong’s busy airport to look for alternatives. Some are reportedly advising colleagues to use burner phones or leave sensitive work devices at home altogether.
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs amplified the consulate’s message on social media, urging Americans to be aware of the new rule before booking trips that include Hong Kong, even for a few hours.
Hong Kong has long been a major hub for international business and tourism, known for its skyscrapers, food scene, and role as a gateway to Asia.
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The consulate recommends enrolling in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for updates and knowing how to contact American officials if detained.
Why it matters to travelers.
The alert marks the latest sign of growing tensions between Washington and Hong Kong authorities. The U.S. has downgraded its assessment of the city’s freedoms in recent years, and travel warnings have grown sharper.
Some travelers are already shifting plans to places like Taiwan or Singapore, where similar demands are not on the books.
Others suggest wiping devices clean before any trip that might touch Hong Kong and restoring data only after leaving.
Hong Kong officials have maintained that the city remains open for business and safe for visitors. But the new password rule sends a different signal to anyone carrying the contents of their digital life in their carry-on bag.
The U.S. consulate urged anyone with questions to reach out directly, but the bottom line for many Americans is to prepare for the possibility that their phones and laptops may no longer be private.
