The US has informed its citizens traveling to Hong Kong that they now have to give their computer or mobile passwords if asked by the police there. Refusing to give the passwords or provide access to personal electronic devices can now be treated as a criminal offence in Hong Kong. The warning was issued by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao after the Hong Kong government amended the implementation rules of its National Security Law earlier this week, giving police powers to access digital devices.
This new rule is applicable to everyone in Hong Kong -- residents, visitors and even those who are transiting through Hong Kong.
Read US consulate's alert
"On March 23, 2026, the Hong Kong government changed the implementing rules relating to the National Security Law. It is now a criminal offense to refuse to give the Hong Kong police the passwords or decryption assistance to access all personal electronic devices including cellphones and laptops. This legal change applies to everyone, including U.S. citizens, in Hong Kong, arriving or just transiting Hong Kong International Airport. In addition, the Hong Kong government also has more authority to take and keep any personal devices, as evidence, that they claim are linked to national security offenses," US consulate general Hong Kong and Macau notified.
What is the new rule in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong police can now demand phone or computer passwords from those who are suspected of breaching the wide-ranging National Security Law. Those who refuse could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to HK$100,000 ($12,700), and individuals who provide "false or misleading information" could face up to three years in jail. The new amendments also give customs officials the power to seize items that they deem to "have seditious intention".
