Speaking at his annual results briefing on February 13, Immigration Director Benson Kwok revealed that his officers refused entry to 32,000 travellers last year—roughly 0.06 percent of total arrivals. Of those, 85 percent were suspected of seeking illegal employment, planning to overstay, or belonging to the department’s list of ‘unwelcome figures.’
The disclosure accompanies robust headline numbers: Hong Kong welcomed 50 million visitors in 2025, 12 percent more than the previous year and just shy of the 2018 pre-pandemic record. Airport arrivals neared 11 million, while 37 million visitors entered via land ports, underscoring the dominance of Greater Bay Area traffic.
Kwok argued that tighter front-line screening and a new pre-arrival registration system for air passengers have improved border security without denting recovery. Details of the system remain classified, but carriers confirm that advance vetting data are cross-checked against watch-lists before boarding passes are issued in overseas ports.
![Immigration chief: 50 million visitor arrivals in 2025; 85 % of entry refusals tied to illegal work or overstays]()
For travellers looking to navigate these new requirements smoothly, VisaHQ can help. The company’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) consolidates visa rules, pre-arrival registration steps, and offers document review services that highlight potential red flags before you fly—an added layer of confidence now that airlines are vetting passengers against government watch-lists.
Industry bodies broadly welcomed the crackdown on illegal work, citing past cases of short-term visitors undercutting local wages. However, migrant-rights groups caution that genuine tourists may be caught by opaque criteria. Lawyers recommend that business travellers carry company invitation letters and proof of accommodation to expedite interviews if pulled aside.
For corporate mobility teams, the message is clear: Hong Kong remains open, but documentation must be watertight. Expect continued scrutiny during marquee events such as Art Basel in March and the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in April.
The disclosure accompanies robust headline numbers: Hong Kong welcomed 50 million visitors in 2025, 12 percent more than the previous year and just shy of the 2018 pre-pandemic record. Airport arrivals neared 11 million, while 37 million visitors entered via land ports, underscoring the dominance of Greater Bay Area traffic.
Kwok argued that tighter front-line screening and a new pre-arrival registration system for air passengers have improved border security without denting recovery. Details of the system remain classified, but carriers confirm that advance vetting data are cross-checked against watch-lists before boarding passes are issued in overseas ports.
For travellers looking to navigate these new requirements smoothly, VisaHQ can help. The company’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) consolidates visa rules, pre-arrival registration steps, and offers document review services that highlight potential red flags before you fly—an added layer of confidence now that airlines are vetting passengers against government watch-lists.
Industry bodies broadly welcomed the crackdown on illegal work, citing past cases of short-term visitors undercutting local wages. However, migrant-rights groups caution that genuine tourists may be caught by opaque criteria. Lawyers recommend that business travellers carry company invitation letters and proof of accommodation to expedite interviews if pulled aside.
For corporate mobility teams, the message is clear: Hong Kong remains open, but documentation must be watertight. Expect continued scrutiny during marquee events such as Art Basel in March and the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in April.
