Most people in Hong Kong also don’t see it as dangerous to come home at night, as violent crimes are rare.
Most of all, you should be wary of pickpockets, which are especially common in markets and on public transport. All foreigners are advised to adhere to standard security measures – do not keep valuables in visible places and close doors and windows when leaving home.
Road safety in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a well-developed road and public transport system. There are a lot of traffic jams in the city, especially during rush hour. The death rate in road traffic accidents is quite low – 120 people a year. According to statistics, this level is gradually decreasing.
The movement of transport in the city is very fast. Therefore it is necessary to strictly observe all traffic rules and cross the street only when the traffic signal is allowed. It will not only help to avoid road accidents but also save you from paying fines, which are very high in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong subway meets the safety requirements one hundred percent. All you need to know is that it is strictly forbidden to eat food in the metro, otherwise, you will have to pay a fine.
Dangerous Areas of Hong Kong
One of the most dangerous areas in Hong Kong is Wanchai, famous for its many nightlife bars, clubs, and restaurants. Tourists visit them very often, as they are very similar to European nightlife bars and clubs. But, unfortunately, in such places, various drugs and medicines are often mixed into alcohol. After consuming these drinks, tourists lose their memory and their money together with valuable things. Also, such drinks, which are made by fraudsters, can greatly undermine human health, and sometimes even cause death.
You also need to be careful at the famous Victoria Peak – tourist robberies are very common here.
There are many places in the city where nightlife is in full swing. Nevertheless, in order not to find yourself in unpleasant situations, it is better not to appear in them alone.
Food safety in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is famous for its delicious and varied food – it is not for nothing that it is called a gourmet paradise. Often ordered meals are prepared right in your presence, and all products used to prepare meals are fresh. If you want to buy food in street stalls or trailers, then it is advisable to do this only if this place is in high demand among residents. It will help prevent food poisoning.
When choosing a restaurant where food will be prepared without your presence, it is better to choose those establishments that can provide a special license that gives the restaurant permission to serve tourists. Typically, these licenses are posted on the door.
It is also worth noting that, unlike most Asian countries, Hong Kong has excellent sanitary tap water, which the World Health Organization even recommends for drinking without additional treatment.
In suburban areas of Hong Kong, drinking water can be of poor quality due to old water pipes, so it can only be consumed after boiling.
High level of air pollution in Hong Kong
The environmental situation in Hong Kong today is very unfavorable. The main reason is that most of the polluted air enters the city from industrial China. The air is so polluted that sometimes it even makes it difficult to see in Hong Kong. Do not be surprised if, after opening a window in a hotel room, instead of the usual landscape, you see only fog, which is caused by atmospheric pollution.
Natural hazards in Hong Kong
Typhoons are very common in the city, which can be observed from May to November. They are especially common in September. Typhoons are accompanied by hurricane winds and downpours. The force of the wind is so great that it can cause severe damage to buildings and overturn cars. Typhoon showers flood the streets of Hong Kong. Therefore, the city has a whole system to alert residents of impending typhoons.
Thus, for example, on most buildings, boards light up, on which you can see numbers from one to ten. The larger the number, the closer the approach of the elements. If the numbers nine and ten are visible, hurricane wind speeds can reach 220 kilometers per hour. In this case, you need to hide in the room or not leave the house since a strong wind destroys everything in its path, collapsing various structures and lifting heavy objects high into the air.
With a figure of eight, the wind speed can range from 63 to 117 kilometers per hour. In this case, some taxi drivers may refuse to provide you with their services since insurance companies do not compensate for losses that arise when cars are damaged due to a typhoon. Also, at the eighth level of danger, all public transport in the city stops working, including transportation on ferries. Restaurants, schools, shops, and offices are closing.
Number three indicates that a storm is approaching, and one indicates that the typhoon has 800 kilometers to go to the city.
In addition to a system for alerting about approaching typhoons, the city has a system for alerting about rainstorms. It provides three color levels: yellow, red, and black. At the red and black levels, all residents of the city are advised to hide indoors, as heavy rain showers cause dangerous landslides, and the streets turn into stormy streams.
All of the above dangers should not be feared. They can be avoided by following the warnings.