Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: US Warns Travelers That Refusing To Unlock Phones In Hong Kong Is Now A Crime – Legal Perspective
The US has issued an urgent travel warning after the Hong Kong government ushered in expanded national security laws that make it illegal to refuse to unlock electronic devices for authorities. Effective this week, any passengers — including US citizens — arriving or transiting through Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) can face immediate imprisonment for withholding passwords or obstructing access to their phones and laptops.
Direct service between the US and Hong Kong is primarily served by Cathay Pacific, with 
United Airlines currently the only US-based carrier flying nonstop to Hong Kong. However, 
Delta Air Lines is returning to the city in June with a daily flight from 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new security laws could complicate travel on these services, while Hong Kong remains one of the world’s busiest transit hubs with tens of millions of annual transfer passengers.
US Travel Alert Over New Hong Kong Security Laws
On March 23, 2026, the Hong Kong government implemented new national security rules that require individuals to hand over their electronic devices and assist in unlocking them. Applicable to anyone suspected of being a national security threat, refusal to cooperate with authorities can result in up to one year in prison and a fine of over $12,500. Although the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has faced criticism for its own policy of checking arriving passengers’ devices, it is not a crime under US law to refuse to hand over a password. Travelers also face up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of over $60,000 for “providing false or misleading information.”
The US Consulate General in Hong Kong & Macau issued a security alert this week, warning US travelers of the possible risks of visiting or transiting through Hong Kong. Notably, this law can be enforced on all passengers, even those passing through the airport without clearing customs. Police also have the authority to seize electronic devices and retain them as evidence. While it isn’t clear how widely these checks are being deployed on passengers, the US Consulate General of Hong Kong & Macau stated,
“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.”
How Will This Impact US-Hong Kong Travel?
Air travel between the US and Hong Kong remains behind its pre-COVID levels, particularly as Hong Kong International’s recovery has faltered compared to other major global airports. However, home carrier Cathay Pacific has been steadily rebuilding its long-haul capacity, placing an aggressive focus on capturing demand in the lucrative North American market.
This summer, Cathay will be operating a peak 108 return flights per week to the continent, a significant 23% year-on-year increase. The airline’s seventh US destination will also launch next week as it commences a five-times-weekly service to 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
|
Airline |
US–Hong Kong Nonstop Routes |
|---|---|
|
Cathay Pacific |
Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA *from March 30, 2026) |
|
United Airlines |
Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) |
|
Delta Air Lines |
Los Angeles (LAX *from June 6, 2026) |
United Airlines continues to be the biggest US presence in Hong Kong with daily nonstop connections to two West Coast airports in LAX and SFO. Its flights out of LAX also continue on fifth freedom routes to Bangkok (BKK) and Ho Chi Minh (SGN), and are among the longest long-haul routes in its network.
Cathay Pacific Expands: Serving 9 US & Canadian Cities For The 1st Time In 6 Years
But unless things change again, departures will still be down compared to summer 2025…
Hong Kong’s Transit Numbers
Before the pandemic, Hong Kong was among the world’s busiest airports in terms of transit, handling around 20 million transfer passengers annually. While its slow recovery from the COVID pandemic has reduced its footfall, it still managed approximately 15 million transiting travelers in 2025.
The airport’s position makes it a key bridge airport between destinations in Europe/North America and Southeast Asia/Australia, with HKG often said to be within a five-hour flight of half the world’s population. While it remains to be seen if security and privacy concerns will impact transit numbers, there is a lot at stake for an airport whose recovery depends heavily on connecting passengers.