Countries update travel alert levels for Hong Kong after National Security Law legislation. The U.S. on Monday raised its travel alert for Hong Kong to a third level of “reconsideration,” emphasizing that the “National Security Act” has been implemented in Hong Kong and may have a negative impact on the personal safety of U.S. nationals. In addition to the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Australia and other Western countries have also raised their travel alerts for Hong Kong in connection with the National Security Law. While the world is questioning whether Hong Kong is not as safe as it used to be, a Taiwanese netizen shared her “shocking story” about connecting flights in Hong Kong, stating explicitly that “I won’t be connecting flights in Hong Kong anymore.
A Taiwanese woman took to social media to share her experience of connecting with her British husband from the UK to Hong Kong and taking a Cathay Pacific flight to Taiwan under the title “Hong Kong Transit Horror”. She said, “I don’t know what we did wrong,” and said, “Next time I won’t dare to take a flight that has a connection in Hong Kong.
She said that she had planned to fly from the UK to Hong Kong and then on to Cathay Pacific to Taiwan, and that they had checked with the Taipei office in London for the necessary documents to enter Taiwan and had applied for a special entry visa.
Just as they arrived in Hong Kong from the United Kingdom and were about to board their flight to Taiwan, Cathay Pacific ground staff refused to let the British husband board, saying that his entry information was not recognized by the Taiwan government and that he might be repatriated to the United Kingdom. The Taiwanese woman questioned why the Cathay Pacific ground staff in Hong Kong decided that his entry information was not recognized by the Taiwan government. She explained, “I consulted the Taipei office in London to prepare all the information, so it is impossible for it not to be recognized. ” They were repeatedly asked personal questions about their relationship, where they were married, and how many times their husbands had entered Taiwan, and were asked to see proof of their relationship. Finally, after being stranded in Hong Kong for about 10 hours, they were told by ground staff that EVA Air would arrange to take them back to Taiwan at 7:00 p.m. that night.
Cathay Pacific Explains Quarantine Measures to Deny Passenger Boarding
Our reporter contacted Cathay Pacific Airways to inquire about the incident. Cathay Pacific emphasizes that “in response to the rapid development of the new coronavirus epidemic, authorities at various destinations have implemented different entry restrictions and quarantine measures”, so it has the responsibility to ensure that passengers meet the relevant requirements and enter the country smoothly. As for the immigration information, Cathay Pacific said that “the SMS presented by the passenger is different from the documents required by the local authorities, therefore, we need to check with the relevant authorities to see if the SMS is accepted as a proof of compliance with the immigration requirements”, but the process of verification takes time, thus affecting the passenger’s trip.
Japanese-born students: Hong Kong is no longer a country you can enjoy traveling in
Although Cathay Pacific explained it was because of quarantine, after the news was made public, it was believed to be related to the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law, because international public opinion has been formed that the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law not only affects the basic freedoms of Hong Kong people, but also endangers the safety of travelers in Hong Kong.
Hazuki (a pseudonym), a Japanese student who was an exchange student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong last year and witnessed various demonstrations against the anti-sending to China movement, including the “Battle of the Second Bridge at CUHK,” believes that the Hong Kong National Security Law has made a difference in Hong Kong. He told us that he and his friends felt that the National Security Law was a very dangerous law because of its ambiguous definitions of crimes. He lamented that Hong Kong used to have the reputation of being the “Pearl of the Orient”, but now many Japanese also feel that “Hong Kong is no longer a country where you can enjoy traveling”.
Hong Kong’s international image has been severely damaged by the implementation of the National Security Law.
The U.S. Department of State on Monday updated the travel alert level for Hong Kong from “Exercise increased caution” at Level 2 to “Reconsider” at Level 3. (Reconsider Travel). The U.S. Travel Alert is divided into four levels, with the first level being “normal precautions” and the fourth level being “do not travel”. As to the reason for raising the Hong Kong Travel Alert, the State Department stated that although the epidemic in Hong Kong has slowed down, the National Security Law of Hong Kong has been implemented in Hong Kong, Beijing can “unilaterally and arbitrarily” exercise its police and national security powers in Hong Kong, and the National Security Law covers non-Hong Kong residents as well as Hong Kong residents. “This could put U.S. citizens who openly criticize China at greater risk of arrest, detention, deportation, or prosecution,” negatively impacting the personal safety of U.S. nationals.
Since the enactment of the National Security Law, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and other countries have updated their travel alerts for Hong Kong. Among them, Australia updated its travel alert for Hong Kong in July, mentioning that the National Security Law has already come into effect, and as the provisions can be interpreted in general terms, Australian nationals have the opportunity to violate the law without intending to do so, urging them not to travel to Hong Kong. Germany also updated its travel alert for Hong Kong in July, saying that the National Security Law’s definitions of the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collaboration with foreign powers are “ambiguous” and that foreigners outside of Hong Kong may also violate the law. The German Foreign Office urged German citizens in Hong Kong to be especially careful, to be aware of the possible consequences of making political statements, and to be especially careful about what they say in social media.
Since last year’s anti-sending campaign, South Korea and Japan have issued Level 1 travel alerts for Hong Kong, reminding their citizens to be aware of the situation and to be safe when traveling to Hong Kong.
When several democracies have raised their travel alerts for Hong Kong, naming the National Security Law of Hong Kong, many travelers and Hong Kong citizens are concerned that Hong Kong is not as safe a place as it used to be.
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