THE Government's official website Smartraveller.gov.au is continuing to warn travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong.
The site says more protests are planned, some of which are not authorised and there is an ongoing risk of violent confrontation.
So if you are going to be in Hong Kong, be alert and avoid protests and demonstrations.
If there are signs of disorder, move away quickly to a safe place.
Monitor media and follow the advice of local authorities.
If you are planning to travel to Hong Kong in the weeks ahead, check the Smartraveller website before you go, as he situation is very uncertain.
In the last few weeks protests at Hong Kong International Airport have resulted in significant disruption and delays, including the cancellation of flights.
Further disruption to airport and other transport links is possible including the MTR, Airport Express and roads.
Consider arriving at the airport well ahead of usual check-in times and be aware of extra security arrangements to enter the departure halls.
Check with your airline or via the airport's website, "HKG My Flight" app, or here for updated transport information.
'Flash mob' protests and random attacks on protestors have become less predictable and are expected to continue, Smartraveller warns.
Tourist and residential areas have been affected and the risk is greater at night, on weekends and public holidays.
There are also media reports of enhanced procedures by mainland border authorities of travellers to and from Hong Kong.
If you're travelling to Hong Kong, ongoing protests may affect your travel insurance, according to CHOICE. Here's what you need to know in relation to insurance.
When did you buy your policy?
Protests started in Hong Kong in June but escalated in mid-August causing delays and cancellations to flights.
Since August 6 some travel insurers have drawn a line in the sand - if you bought your policy before that date, you're covered to make changes to your trip, subject to the policy exclusions.
If you bought your policy after that date you're not covered.
Travel insurance for a known event
Travel insurance doesn't cover you for a 'known event' but the definition of a known event can be murky.
Generally speaking, if the event was publicised in the media or official government websites when you bought the policy, it's a known event, and you're not covered.
Insurer 1Cover told CHOICE their policies did not cover claims for losses caused by an event that you were aware of at the time of purchasing your policy.
If you entered a policy after the [6 August], we would expect you would have done so with an awareness of the unrest in Hong Kong," a spokesperson said.
"For these policies, we will not, to the extent permitted by law, pay any claim caused by or arising from or in any way connected with protests and resulting events at Hong Kong airport."
So when are the demonstrations in Hong Kong a known event? It's best to check with your travel insurer.
The two biggest travel insurers, Covermore and Allianz, cut cover for the Hong Kong protests as of August 7.
Will my travel insurer cover me for the Hong Kong protests? What can I claim?
It all depends on when you bought your insurance policy.
If you bought your policy before the cut-off date:
- If you've already departed on your trip you could claim additional transport and accommodation expenses.
- If you haven't left yet, you could claim cancellation or amendment costs.
- You'll need to cancel or rearrange what you can first, and keep all receipts and relevant documentation.
- If you book new accommodation, you can't upgrade from a backpackers' dorm to a five star resort at the insurer's expense. It has to be in line with the standard of accommodation you already booked.
If you bought your policy after the cut off:
You're out of luck. It's unlikely you'll be covered to cancel or amend the trip.
It's generally best to buy your policy at the same time you forked out your cash for flights and accommodation to ensure you're covered right from the start.
It is also advised to check the relevant travel alerts on smartraveller.gov.au before booking.
"It's really important travellers keep an eye on the news around their destination before they buy their tickets and purchase their travel insurance. This prevents disappointment and heartache further down the track," the 1Cover spokesperson said.
You'll still be covered for other things
At least cover is still available for things that aren't affected by the Hong Kong protests.
Travel Insurance Direct and World Nomads travel insurance spokesperson Phil Sylvester told CHOICE cover would still be available for things such as theft or loss of belongings, injury or medical emergency - as long as those things were not linked to the excluded events.
"So, trip on a broken paving stone and twist your ankle and your claim for medical costs would be unaffected by the any exclusions, but get hit in the foot by a rubber bullet and your claim is very unlikely to succeed," he said.
"However, don't try to second-guess our determinations, if something has happened to you and you assume it won't be covered because of the civil unrest, lodge the claim anyway and let us determine that."
"The worst that can happen is we say No."
Civil unrest or military intervention?
Even if you bought cover before the Hong Kong protests became a known event, you're subject to the policy exclusions, aka the small print.
- Insurers currently refer to the event in Hong Kong as 'civil unrest' which most policies cover.
- If the Chinese military intervenes, the event becomes an act of war, which many travel insurers won't cover regardless of whether you bought the policy before or after the cut off date.
This exclusion usually applies to medical, cancellation and amendment expenses.
While many insurers have the exclusion in the small print, how they interpret it will vary.
The provider of World2Cover and RACV travel insurance, Tokio Marine, told CHOICE that for policies purchased before the cut-off date, if the Chinese military came in to regain order at the direction of the Chinese government, this would not be excluded under their policy.
"It is not an act of war and the military are not taking power, there is no revolution or insurrection," a spokesperson said.
"They are maintaining the peace within the boundaries of China."
"We would not exclude these claims. Each would be looked at their own merit."
So if you have a trip booked to Hong Kong, keep an eye on how things pan out - stay in touch with your travel insurer and ask them if they will continue to cover you for this event.
To visit smartraveller, click here. To visit CHOICE, click here.
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