When you are travelling in the Mainland, it is important to know what assistance you can receive from the HKSAR Government if you encounter difficulties. Here you can learn about the assistance that can and cannot be provided to Hong Kong residents by HKSAR Government in the Mainland, and what to do if you are arrested or in case of serious accidents or casualties.

While you are in the Mainland, the HKSAR Government can:

• Issue you an Entry Permit for returning to Hong Kong if you have lost your identity document.
  
• Notify your relatives in Hong Kong and give them advice on procedural matters if you are involved in a serious accident or become a casualty.
• Liaise, upon request from the parties concerned, with your relatives or friends in Hong Kong for rendering financial assistance.
• Pass information to your relatives in Hong Kong about your detention or arrest upon receipt of notification from Mainland law enforcement agencies.
• Inquire, on request from your relatives or friends in Hong Kong, about the situation of the case which you have been arrested or detained by the Mainland law enforcement agencies.
  
• Provide information on lawyers in the Mainland to you or your relatives or friends on request.
• Provide any other relevant advisory services.

It is important to note the HKSAR Government cannot:

• Intervene in the judicial system or administrative operations of the Mainland when providing assistance to Hong Kong residents under the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems'.
• Shield unlawful acts or absolve Hong Kong residents from criminal liability.
• Obtain better treatment than that provided for Mainland residents in hospitals, under detention or in prison.
• Pay hotel, legal, medical or travelling expenses, or any other bills for the parties concerned.

While in the Mainland, you could meet a number of unexpected circumstances. This section provides information on common scenarios and what you should do in them.

If you lose money, your identity documents or any other belongings in the Mainland, you should first report the loss to the public security authorities and obtain documentary proof of that report. Following your loss, if you need assistance in returning to Hong Kong, you can contact the Immigration Department, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing or the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Guangdong.

Please read the 'Contact Details' section below for more information.

You must abide by the local laws and regulations while traveling or staying in the Mainland. If you contravene any Mainland laws, you must bear the legal consequences. If you are arrested or detained for any criminal offence, you can request the public security authorities to notify your relatives in accordance with the applicable laws.

Further information on Mainland criminal law is available through the following links

• General information on Mainland criminal laws and regulations relating to persons arrested or under detention (Chinese only)
  http://www.bjo.gov.hk/f/book-f.htm
• A Brief Introduction to Mainland Criminal Proceedings (Chinese only)
  http://www.sb.gov.hk/chi/special/mlaw/ml-law.pdf

If you, your companions, friends or relatives are involved in a serious accident or become casualties, you should report to the public security authorities immediately. If you need further assistance, you can contact the Immigration Department, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing or the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Guangdong.

Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department.

24-Hour Hotline: +852 1868
Fax: +852 2519 3536
Address:
9/F Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Beijing Office

No. 71, Di'anmen Xidajie
Xicheng District
Beijing, China
Postal Code: 100009
Phone: + 86 10 6657 2880 Ext. 032
Fax: +86 10 6657 2823
Email: bjohksar@bjo-hksarg.org.cn
Website: http://www.bjo.gov.hk

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong

Flat 7101, Citic Plaza
233 Tian He North Road
Guangzhou, China
Postal Code: 510613
Phone: + 86 20 3891 1220 Ext. 608
Fax: +86 20 3877 0466
Email: general@gdeto.gov.hk
Website: http://www.gdeto.gov.hk/

Further information on assistance services for Hong Kong residents who are travelling or staying in the mainland can be downloaded as a brochure through the following link.

• Guide to Assistance Services to Hong Kong Residents in the Mainland
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/pdforms/id938e.pdf