Taipei: Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced on Thursday that revised guidelines requiring public servants to notify authorities before traveling to Hong Kong or Macau have come into effect. Penalties for non-compliance will be enforced starting July 1, 2026.
According to Focus Taiwan, the key amendment mandates government personnel to inform their agencies of any travel to Hong Kong or Macau, regardless of whether it occurs on a weekday or holiday and irrespective of the travel's purpose. MAC Deputy Head and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh stated at a news briefing in Taipei that travelers must also record their trips in the human resources attendance system.
The announcement followed the Cabinet's approval of amendments to the "Guidelines for Personnel of the Executive Yuan and Its Subordinate Agencies Traveling to Hong Kong or Macau." Previously, no clear notification requirements existed for government personnel traveling to these regions for tourism, family visits, or other purposes.
The council highlighted the increased risks for Taiwanese government personnel visiting Hong Kong and Macau due to China's tightening political control and escalating united-front efforts targeting Taiwan. The revised guidelines aim to "safeguard official secrets and personnel safety" by strengthening risk advisories and controls.
Government personnel are also required to report in advance if they plan to meet or contact "designated individuals," defined as those holding official posts or civil servant status in the two cities. This category includes "suspicious persons," though Liang did not specify how they are defined, citing Hong Kong and Macau as hubs for intelligence and Chinese state security operations.
Liang emphasized that civil servants should remain vigilant and report encounters with suspicious individuals proactively. For transit through Hong Kong or Macau airports, prior reporting is necessary, with case-by-case reviews determining penalties for unforeseen emergencies.
The revised guidelines include a grace period until June 30, 2026, during which no penalties will be applied for non-compliance. The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration will draft penalty guidelines, with formal enforcement set to begin on July 1, 2026.