Hong Kong passport climbs to 45th place in 2026 Henley Index, granting visa-free access to 171 destinations
Heathrow scraps 100-ml liquid rule as CT scanners spread—Hong Kong Airport preparing similar rollout
Immigration Department to open on successive Saturdays as passport demand hits post-pandemic record
Latest News
Seat-belt rule extended to all Hong Kong bus seats from 25 January—new liability for operators and passengers
A new regulation effective 25 January makes seat belts compulsory on every bus seat in Hong Kong and imposes fines on both operators and unbelted passengers. Corporate shuttle services must verify compliance or risk penalties and insurance complications.
Long-haul Cathay cancellations highlight regional airline strain as 17 Asia flights scrapped in a day
Seventeen flight cancellations across Asia on 24 January included five Cathay Pacific long-haul services from Hong Kong to the US. The disruptions, linked to staffing and fleet constraints, force corporates to build alternative routings and may threaten slot retention for airlines.
Guangdong-to-Hong Kong ‘Southbound’ self-drive scheme tops 2,500 applications in first month
One month after launch, Hong Kong’s new southbound self-drive scheme has attracted more than 2,500 Guangdong motorists and 1,000 confirmed trips, prompting calls to raise the 2,000-vehicle daily quota ahead of the Lunar New Year peak. Hoteliers report rising occupancy from self-drive visitors, underscoring the programme’s potential to spread tourist spending and accelerate Greater Bay Area integration.
Hong Kong agents warn flyers to leave power banks at home as Korean carriers tighten in-flight rules
From 26 January, five South Korean airlines will forbid passengers from using or charging power banks in-flight, prompting Hong Kong tour operators to recommend leaving the devices at home and relying on seat-back USB outlets instead. The move highlights diverging global battery-safety rules that corporate travellers must track when planning multi-carrier itineraries.
Hong Kong Immigration Department arrests 19 in week-long illegal-labour sweep
A series of joint enforcement operations across Hong Kong from 16–22 January netted 19 arrests for illegal employment, underscoring the city’s tough stance on hiring without proper work authorisation. Businesses are urged to tighten document checks as Immigration vows more raids before the Lunar New Year peak in casual hiring.