In a comparative survey published on 6 April, Travel And Tour World noted that Hong Kong has joined jurisdictions such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom in making it a criminal offence to refuse to provide electronic-device passwords during border or national-security inspections. The new offence, effective 26 March 2026, carries fines of up to HK$500 000 and possible imprisonment.
![Hong Kong added to global list of states criminalising refusal to give device passwords]()
For travellers and corporate mobility managers looking to stay ahead of these changes, VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) aggregates the latest Hong Kong entry rules, offers expedited visa processing and provides advisory on border-device checks—helping organisations keep employees compliant and informed.
The report places Hong Kong’s penalties at the higher end of global practice. For example, Australia’s fine cap is A$7 650 (about HK$38 000) while the U.K.’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act allows up to two years’ jail but lower financial penalties. Hong Kong’s measure also extends to anyone ‘believed to know’ a password, widening the compliance net. For multinational employers the broadened search powers raise questions about trade-secret protection and cross-border data transfers. Some technology firms are considering rerouting prototype hardware shipments away from Hong Kong to avoid inspection risk, while legal departments debate whether staff can invoke professional-secret privilege. Travel-risk advisers recommend drawing up device-sanitisation checklists and providing employees with loaner smartphones that can be wiped remotely. Companies should also brief travelling executives on their right to legal counsel and on procedures for logging inspection incidents for subsequent review.
For travellers and corporate mobility managers looking to stay ahead of these changes, VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) aggregates the latest Hong Kong entry rules, offers expedited visa processing and provides advisory on border-device checks—helping organisations keep employees compliant and informed.
The report places Hong Kong’s penalties at the higher end of global practice. For example, Australia’s fine cap is A$7 650 (about HK$38 000) while the U.K.’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act allows up to two years’ jail but lower financial penalties. Hong Kong’s measure also extends to anyone ‘believed to know’ a password, widening the compliance net. For multinational employers the broadened search powers raise questions about trade-secret protection and cross-border data transfers. Some technology firms are considering rerouting prototype hardware shipments away from Hong Kong to avoid inspection risk, while legal departments debate whether staff can invoke professional-secret privilege. Travel-risk advisers recommend drawing up device-sanitisation checklists and providing employees with loaner smartphones that can be wiped remotely. Companies should also brief travelling executives on their right to legal counsel and on procedures for logging inspection incidents for subsequent review.
