Middle East war drives 35% rise in Hongkongers’ overseas help requests
Hongkongers’ requests for help from overseas jumped 35 per cent in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, the city’s immigration chief has revealed, attributing the rise to the war in the Middle East. Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung told reporters on Saturday that his department had received around 3,160 requests for assistance from Hong Kong…
In the first eight months of 2026, Hongkongers' requests for assistance from overseas surged by 35 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the city's immigration chief, Benson Kwok Joon-fung. The surge is primarily attributed to the military conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran. This conflict disrupted global air traffic, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and triggered a worldwide fuel crisis.
Tensions at the Strait of Hormuz have recently escalated, leading to the cancellation of additional flights by Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways to Dubai and Riyadh until November 30. Kwok emphasized the importance of residents keeping a close watch on their passports and other personal identity documents while traveling abroad, as lost documents can hinder one's departure from certain countries.
The immigration process can be time-consuming, as reissuing a passport takes time, and while Chinese consulates and the Immigration Department will assist residents, it still requires time.
The city's immigration department has been preparing for the opening of the Huanggang Port checkpoint, which will be the first to use a "joint inspection" clearance model. Passengers will only need to present one identity document to cross the border, replacing the traditional two-step process. Kwok assured the audience that immigration systems had worked well during large-scale drills at the port over the past weeks. He expects the number of passengers using the revamped crossing to surpass 100,000 per day when it opens.
The immigration department has also been testing a new "seamless" e-channel clearance lane at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge crossing since June. Around 50,000 regular travelers have been allowed to join the trial, which has already seen approximately 80,000 uses. Kwok announced that 13,000 passengers had registered for the trial, highlighting the department's efforts to streamline immigration processes.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
