This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
Published on August 8, 2019, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory warning people about traveling to Hong Kong, citing confrontational protests in the semiautonomous Chinese territory.
The advisory comes after a general strike and widespread demonstrations shook the city, with Chinese officials warning about the continuing unrest.
According to the advisory, since June 2019, several large-scale and smaller political demonstrations have taken place in various areas of Hong Kong, with some turning confrontational or resulting in violent clashes.
Several other countries, including Australia, Britain, Ireland, Japan, and Singapore, have issued similar travel warnings.
Protests are planned starting Friday at Hong Kong's airport, which could disrupt travel to and from the city, and the city has been roiled by daily demonstrations that have led the police to fire tear gas, rubber bullets, and bean bag rounds at protesters.
The Hong Kong government has denied that the city is not a welcoming place for visitors, stating that it has a long tradition of peaceful protests.
However, the government acknowledged that some violent protesters have blocked roadways, vandalized property, and confronted police after the end of some processions.
On Wednesday, the top Chinese official overseeing Hong Kong affairs said that the city was experiencing its worst crisis since the former British colony returned to China in 1997.
