Japan remains a popular destination for Hong Kong travelers, but recent reports of a possible major earthquake in the country have sparked concerns about the validity of travel insurance. Mr. Law, an expert in the insurance industry addressed these concerns yesterday (March 19), emphasizing that travelers must carefully review policy terms to ensure coverage for natural disasters. He also advised reading the fine print to understand the maximum compensation limits for different types of natural disasters.
Law explained that the purpose of travel insurance is to cover unforeseen incidents. Despite Japan's frequent earthquakes, such events are typically categorized as unforeseen unless specific conditions are met. These conditions include the announcement of a confirmed earthquake date or the classification of Japan as a high-risk country by government authorities, such as issuing a red or black travel alert. Under normal circumstances, earthquake-related incidents should be covered according to the policy terms.
Regarding potential increases in travel insurance premiums for Japan, Law noted that the insurance market in HK is highly competitive, and no adjustments to premiums have been observed for the time being.
Separately, HK Observatory Director Chan Pak-wai, during the Observatory's annual media briefing on March 18, stated that earthquakes are difficult to predict. When asked whether the Observatory would advise the public to reduce travel to Japan, Chan clarified that the Observatory would not issue such recommendations. Instead, they will closely monitor updates from Japan's meteorological agencies regarding earthquake forecasts.
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