Originally Posted by sebastravel

I'm surprise people here find it so easy to go from Departures to Immigration!!

Have had to do it 2-3 times and has always proved to be a headache and kind of a shock for the security staff in HKIA.

- If your flight is canceled, you either are escorted by airline staff or there is no way they will let you go to the arrivals area. Why? Good question, what is so easy in ICN or other airports is seen as some kind of extreme security threat in HKG. In any case, made it clear to the airline staff and stand firm that you want to get out BEFORE they process all the flights passengers rerouting, accommodation etc or you might be held for hours before being released back to nature.

- If you have an accident or simply decide to leave, good luck, get a lounge/airline attendant to escort you, and if you don't have a HKID or are traveling with an infant you might need to wait for 20-30 minutes to get your papers processed by the police. (and that was in an emergency)

I wonder what the reason might be, HKIA believes people will enter the airport just to buy Taxfree stuff and cancel their ticket just to save taxes????

HKIA believes that people processed by their own security staff at departures/transfer are a threat.

I wouldn't recommend to try it, if you want to get out of HKIA do it when you arrive.

I've never seen getting out of an airport to be such a hassle as in HK. truly ridiculous. Definitely a let down compared with other places.