Opinion | Travel advisory system: Objective advice trumps political manipulation

By Grenville Cross

Whenever mechanisms designed to promote the public good are abused, everybody loses out, and the travel advisory system is no exception. Travel alerts are official statements issued by governments, and they contain information about the safety of particular places. They enable citizens to make informed choices about visiting contemplated destinations, or, indeed, leaving them, if they are already there. They also allow people to prepare themselves adequately for their trip, and to have a clearer understanding of what should be avoided and of any particular dangers they might encounter.

As the violent protests have largely subsided, thanks to the professionalism of the police force, Hong Kong is, once again, becoming one of the safest cities in Asia. Since, moreover, the enactment of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) on June 30, those responsible for the violence of the past year have scaled back their activities, disbanded their organizations or simply moved away, which has made the city even safer. Indeed, on July 8, the police force was able to announce that two thirds of its riot squad officers would be returning to their regular duties, meaning that 4,000 men and women would once again be available for normal policing activities, including patrolling the streets and keeping the peace.

In spite of this, various foreign governments, hoping to harm Hong Kong, have issued travel advisories which are unnecessary, ideologically driven and divorced from reality, and extend well beyond any COVID-19 concerns. The United States, of course, is the prime mover, and has issued a travel advisory at Level 3, which urges its citizens to reconsider travel to Hong Kong "due to COVID-19 and arbitrary enforcement of local laws". Its immediate neighbor, Canada, has also weighed in with a travel warning, advising its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to the risks of arbitrary enforcement of local laws and civil unrest".

The Australian government, however, has gone even further. On July 28, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a travel advisory at Level 4, apparently COVID-19 related, stating "Do not travel to Hong Kong." But it went far beyond the pandemic, and Australians were warned, firstly, that, if they travel to Hong Kong, they could face "possible transfer to mainland China for prosecution", then, secondly, that they might be at "increased risk of detention on vaguely defined national security grounds", and, thirdly, that they could "break the law without intending to". If, moreover, any Australians already in Hong Kong have any concerns, they are advised to "reconsider your need to remain in Hong Kong", although few, if any, are expected to heed such blood-curdling nonsense.

Any Australian holidaymakers planning, in due course, to come to Hong Kong and, say, visit Ocean Park, go up Lantau Peak, swim at Repulse Bay, or go hiking on Lamma Island, must have read the travel advice with incredulity. After all, most, if not all, Australians visiting Hong Kong, like their 100,000 countrymen resident here, have absolutely no intention of breaking the law, let alone engaging in secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign powers, and have nothing to fear. They want to enjoy themselves, relax and sample Cantonese cuisine in a place which is safe, and Hong Kong offers all of this. The travel advisory, therefore, is malicious, and only makes sense once viewed in its overall context as part of Canberra's ongoing campaign to damage Hong Kong.

Indeed, since July, Canberra has also suspended Australia's extradition arrangements with Hong Kong, and proposed that Hong Kong companies relocate to Australia. A "pathway to citizenship" has even been suggested for up to 10,000 Hong Kong residents currently in Australia, mainly students, a move calculated to siphon off future talent.

It is clear, therefore, that Hong Kong is being systematically targeted, and the cynical abuse of travel advisories is intended to give a false impression to potential visitors, and thereby undermine its economy. In the face of such aggression, Hong Kong must hold its nerve, stick to what it believes to be right, and identify its true friends. Nobody who cares for Hong Kong and its people would have behaved as these bully boys have done, and the city must now chart a new course. It has faced great challenges in the past and always pulled through, and it will do so again.

Grenville Cross is a Senior Counsel and Professor of Law, and was previously the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Hong Kong SAR.

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