Hong Kong and Macao for couples: vaping, safety and local rules

Hong Kong and Macao are part of China, but they are Special Administrative Regions with their own immigration controls, laws and daily life. Many people visit both on one trip and assume they work as a single place. They do not, and some of the differences can cost you money or trouble. This guide summarises the official travel advice from the UK FCDO for Hong Kong (updated on 1 April 2026) and Macao (updated on 11 December 2025), consulted on 7 November 2026. It is informational and educational for travellers: it recommends no venues, contains no explicit content and rejects every form of sex tourism or exploitation. You will also find our destination guides to Hong Kong and Macao.

Entry: six months visa-free, with nuances

According to the FCDO, holders of a British passport can visit Hong Kong for up to six months without a visa, with a passport valid for at least one month after the planned departure date. For Macao, up to six months visa-free is also allowed, with a passport valid for at least 90 days after departure. If your passport is from another country, check each region's official immigration website or your embassy. To work, study or stay longer you need a visa. If you arrive in Hong Kong or Macao from mainland China, or move from one to the other, plan your exit and re-entry visas, because each territory has different rules.

Crossing into mainland China

The FCDO warns that anyone travelling from Macao to mainland China on a British passport must have the Chinese visa before they reach the border; otherwise they may be fined or detained. If you enter and leave Macao through mainland China, you need a double or multiple-entry visa to re-enter. And if you visit Hong Kong from mainland China and want to return to the mainland, you need a visa that allows a second entry. The mainland authorities may carry out thorough checks at the border, including of electronic devices.

Hong Kong: what the law forbids

In Hong Kong, the advice is very clear on vaping: it is prohibited to bring e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, herbal cigarettes or related devices, even in personal luggage, and from 30 April 2026 possessing any e-cigarette or "alternative smoking product" in a public place is illegal, whether you use it or not. Selling, manufacturing and promoting them are also offences. CBD is a dangerous drug and all cannabis products are illegal, including oils, creams, capsules and food. There are on-the-spot fines for littering, jaywalking or spitting, and importing ivory is illegal. Items such as stun guns and martial arts equipment are banned at the airport. Travellers in transit who do not pass through immigration are exempt from the vaping restrictions.

Macao: licensed accommodation and official taxis

In Macao two rules surprise people. First: you must stay in licensed accommodation; the fine for illegal accommodation can reach 3,000 patacas, and you can check the licence on the Macao Tourism Office website. Second: Uber is illegal, and the police act against drivers and passengers of unlicensed services. Use official taxis. If you plan to drive on a UK licence you need a 1949 international permit and must register if you drive for more than 14 days.

Safety: thieves, drinks and casinos

In both regions violent crime is low, but there is pickpocketing. The FCDO asks you to take care of your passport, cards and money in crowded areas and when entering or leaving hotels; in Macao, also your wallet and valuables in casinos late at night. Assaults, including sexual ones involving spiked drinks, are rare in Hong Kong but do happen: do not leave your glass alone or accept drinks from strangers. Casinos are a gambling business; our guide does not present them as lifestyle venues.

National security

Hong Kong applies the 2020 National Security Law and the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which can be interpreted broadly and apply to anyone regardless of nationality and to activities inside and outside the territory. The FCDO warns that some people have been prosecuted for publishing or supporting statements critical of the authorities and that you could be detained or removed to mainland China for some offences. Macao has its own Safeguarding National Security Law, which allows the police to access social media and private communications. Avoid demonstrations and do not photograph military installations.

Typhoons and health

Typhoon season runs from May to November. In both regions, with the Typhoon 8 signal public offices shut (and public transport in Hong Kong). Medical treatment for uninsured visitors is expensive in Hong Kong and UK prescriptions are not valid in Macao: you would need to see a local doctor. Buy insurance with evacuation. Emergencies: 999 in both. Macao's Tourism Crisis Management Office answers 24 hours a day on (853) 2833 3000.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my vape to Hong Kong? No. According to the FCDO, bringing one in is prohibited, and since 30 April 2026 possessing one in public is too.

Can I book a private apartment in Macao? It must be licensed; otherwise there is a fine. Check on the Tourism Office website.

What about the national security laws? They apply to everyone, inside and outside the territory. Avoid demonstrations and think before posting political messages.

Are there verifiable lifestyle venues? We found none with an official website in either region.

For the mainland context, read laws in China for couples. This guide is not legal advice. Sources: the FCDO travel advice for Hong Kong and Macao at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.