Hong Kong security law raises risks for business travellers, warns Healix International

Changes to Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) have increased the potential risks for organisations sending employees to or through the territory, healthcare and risk management firm Healix International has warned in a new blog.

Under rules introduced in March, authorities can require individuals to provide passwords or decryption assistance for electronic devices, including phones and laptops. Refusal can carry up to one year in prison and a HK$100,000 (US$12,750) fine, while providing false information can result in up to three years’ imprisonment and a HK$500,000 fine.

Authorities can also seize devices as evidence where they suspect material may contain “seditious intention”, including in circumstances where no arrest is made. The measures can apply to travellers arriving in or transiting through Hong Kong International Airport.

As Healix highlights in its analysis, activists, journalists, and academics remain particularly exposed, but the changes also widen potential risks for business travellers carrying sensitive corporate data or communications.

For travel risk managers and insurers, the measures reinforce the need for employee briefings, careful review of data carried on travel devices, and clear procedures if a traveller is detained. Companies may also consider issuing clean devices for higher-risk trips.

While device seizure or detention is unlikely to become routine, Healix warns that the consequences of non-compliance are significant. For businesses operating in or travelling through Hong Kong, preparation and awareness are therefore increasingly important.

Recent Cigna Healthcare research has revealed globally mobile professionals face ongoing stress, loneliness, and adjustment challenges.