Hong Kong (China) Embassy: 202-328-2500 Beijing GMT +8 hrs

Entry Requirements:
Passport/Visa: Travelers should possess valid passport. A visa is not required.
HIV Test: Not required.
Vaccinations: None required.
Telephone Country Code: 852

Embassies/Consulates: U.S. Embassy, Hong Kong. 26 Garden Road; Tel. (5) 239-011.

Hospitals / Doctors: Dr. Hans Schrader, Matilda Hospital Family Practice, The Peak; Tel. 2848-1500. Dr. John W. Simon, M.R.C.P., D.T M.&H.; The Central Medical Practice, 1501 Prince’s Building; Tel. 2521-2567 or 2526-7719. George T.F. Tong, M.D., Manning House, 38 Queen’s Road Central; Tel. (5) 238-295 or 813-0375 (H). Hong Kong Adventist Hospital; 24-hr. emergency service; Tel. (5) 574-6211. TST Medical Clinic, Kowloon; Tel. (3) 723-1199.

Current Advisories & Health Risks:
Dengue Fever: Risk is currently negligible but outbreaks have previously occurred. The Aedes mosquitoes, which potentially transmit dengue, bite primarily during the daytime and are present in periurban areas as well as resort and rural areas. All travelers are advised to take measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Hepatitis: Outbreaks of hepatitis A usually have occurred every 2–3 years, but the incidence of hepatitis A has declined during the past decade due to improvements in sanitation. The commonest source of hepatitis A in Hong Kong is improperly cooked or raw shellfish, oysters in particular. (These are often bred in sewage-contaminated seabeds.) To prevent hepatitis A, all nonimmune travelers should receive hepatitis A vaccine. The hepatitis B carrier rate in the general population is estimated at 10%. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for healthcare workers, corporate employees, expatriates, teachers, and others (including family members) who will have close, prolonged contact with the indigenous population. Hepatitis C is endemic but only 0.5% of the population are carriers of the antibody. Hepatitis E is present in Hong Kong, but no major outbreaks have been reported.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE): Sporadic cases are reported year-round; nine cases have been reported in Hong Kong over the past 10 years. Vaccination (now available again in the United States, as well as Canada) is recommended for extended travel in this region. Travelers to Hong Kong should also take measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Malaria: The urban area of Hong Kong is risk free. Malaria has been reported in rural northern border areas. Travelers to the northern border areas should take weekly doses of chloroquine. Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria has not been reported.

Other Diseases/Hazards: Travelers should avoid swimming in local waters due to contamination by raw sewage. Hotel swimming pools are safe.

Scrub Typhus: Risk currently exists in rural and forested areas. All travelers having contact with vegetation (e.g., along roads or forest paths) should take measures to prevent bites of larval mites (chiggers). Measures include wearing protective clothing (preferably treated with permethrin) and applying a deet repellent to exposed skin.

Travelers' Diarrhea: All drinking water in Hong Kong is purified and chlorinated. In urban and resort areas, the hotels and restaurants serve reliable food and potable water. Elsewhere, travelers should observe food and drink safety precautions. Raw shellfish should be avoided. A quinolone antibiotic (Floxin or Cipro) is recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhea. Diarrhea not responding to antibiotic treatment may be due to a parasitic disease such as giardiasis or amebiasis.