Emergency numbers and getting help

Which number do I call for police, fire or an ambulance?#

Dial 999. GovHK tells visitors to call it for the Police, the Fire Services Department or an ambulance (page last reviewed April 2025).

When you call from a smartphone, the phone also sends its best available location to the 999 centre. The Police say this location service is free. The Government's reply of 6 May 2026 gives the Police pledge for emergency calls, measured to the arrival of officers: nine minutes on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, 15 minutes in the New Territories. Which languages the 999 centres answer in is covered on the Help in your language page.

What do I say when I call 999?#

The Fire Services Department asks callers to stay calm, dial 999 and state the exact location: street name and number, building name, floor and room. Then give a contact telephone number and the nature of the incident or injury, for example a building fire, gas leakage or cardiac arrest.

Briefly describe the scene, such as people trapped or the number of casualties, and answer the operator's questions.

The Government says the Police class calls such as assault, arson, burglary, robbery, fire and person drowning as emergency calls.

Does 112 work, and what if my phone has no signal?#

GovHK (revised September 2026) says dialling 112 connects you to the 999 centre from any local mobile network with coverage where you are. The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) says if your phone cannot lock on to its network, try 112 and try to reach a higher place.

On a mainland network, dialling 00852 112 or 00852 999 will not reach the 999 centre. Call a family member, friend or police station with 00852 and their number.

OFCA says it is difficult to connect to any local network in four country park areas: south-western Lantau, central Tai Lam, Luk Wu in Sai Kung East and north-eastern Tung Ping Chau.

What can I do if I cannot speak or hear on the phone?#

The Police run a 992 SMS service for people who cannot use 999 because of a speech or hearing impairment. You must register first. Registration is free, online through the Police platform (an account or iAM Smart) or in person at a designated organisation or police station. A confirmation SMS means the service is ready.

Messages can be in Traditional or Simplified Chinese or English. The service works within Hong Kong only (Police guide, February 2025).

The Police app HKSOS also reaches the 999 centre with one tap, sends your location, and offers pictures for nine common situations such as fractures or severe bleeding.

How do I send a 992 message, and can a visitor register?#

Send the exact address, the help needed (police, fire or ambulance), the number injured and whether you are trapped. The Police say to use 992 only when you cannot report by fax or ask someone to call 999. If no reply SMS arrives within 5 minutes, assume it failed and resend or seek help another way. A false report is an offence.

The Police guide says any registered person with such an impairment may use it, and says "citizens who have successfully registered". The form asks for an identity document number (it lists a passport) and a residential address. None says whether a visitor may register, so we cannot say.

How do I report a crime, or reach the Police when it is not an emergency?#

On its crime-information page the Police say a victim of crime should report to the nearest police station, or dial 999 in an emergency. The Police list a Police Hotline, 2527 7177, and a report room for each police division. Some report rooms open 24 hours, others only part of the day. The list does not say what the hotline is for.

You can also use the e-Report Centre in English, Traditional Chinese or Simplified Chinese. Since August 2025 every e-Report form needs a login with an HKPF Digital Services Logon account or iAM Smart. For help the Police list 2860 2000.

I lost something in Hong Kong. Where do I report it?#

The Police e-Report Centre has Lost Report forms for Lost Property and Lost Animal. It can be used through the Police website, the Hong Kong Police Mobile Application and self-service kiosks in police stations. Every form needs the login described in the crime-reporting section above.

Items lost on the MTR, a bus or a taxi have their own routes, in the next three sections.

The Police "Found Property" page shows only cash or property worth more than HK$5,000 that the Police received within the past 90 days.

I lost something on the MTR. What do I do?#

Register the loss online through the MTR's Lost Property Registration page. The MTR says this covers Heavy Rail, Light Rail and MTR Bus, for items lost within the previous 6 weeks. Afterwards you can check progress under Lost Property Handling Status.

In person, the Lost Property and Concessionary Travel Office at Admiralty Station is open 8:00am to 8:00pm daily. The MTR gives (852) 2861 0020 for calls during office hours.

If you find an item, leave it with staff at the station where you exit or change trains. The page does not say how long the MTR keeps items.

I lost something on a bus. What do I do?#

KMB says found items go to the Terminus Supervisor, and items not collected the same day go to the Lost Property Section. To report a loss, use the Chatbot on APP1933 or the KMB website, choose "Lost property on bus" and give the route, date and time, a description and contact details. If the item is found, KMB confirms with you and it can be moved to a self-service locker at a designated terminus, collected after on-the-spot payment.

Citybus takes reports through its Report Lost e-Form and asks for one submission per case. Neither page says how long items are kept.

I left something in a taxi. What do I do?#

The Transport Department says you may report it to the Road Co-op Lost & Found online registration service, giving details of the item and your contact number. The service's web address is on the Department's taxi page. You can also call the Transport Department hotline, 2804 2600, for help.

The Department's taxi guidelines say a driver who finds property should deposit it at a police station within 6 hours. If the owner claims it sooner with satisfactory proof of ownership, it goes back to the owner instead. Anyone else who finds property in a taxi should hand it to the driver.

I lost my Hong Kong identity card. What do I do?#

GovHK (revised July 2026) says to report the loss and apply for a replacement in person at any Registration of Persons Office. No appointment is needed. The rule is within 14 days, or within 14 days of your return if you are abroad. In general, police proof of loss is not required.

The fee is HK$370. The Immigration Department says processing usually takes 5 working days.

The lost card stops being valid once you have reported and applied. If you find it later, return it at once to a Registration of Persons Office or police station.

I lost my passport. Who issues the replacement?#

For a foreign passport we found no Hong Kong Government page on replacement, so we give no official steps. The Protocol Division describes consulates as the official representation of foreign states here; the next section says how to find yours.

For an HKSAR passport or other HKSAR travel document lost in Hong Kong, GovHK says to report the loss to the Immigration Department and apply in person, booking on (852) 2598 0888 or online. For an HKSAR passport or Document of Identity for Visa Purposes lost abroad, report to the local police, ask for a copy of the report and contact the Chinese diplomatic or consular mission.

How do I find my country's consulate in Hong Kong?#

Use the Government's list on the Protocol Division site. As at 26 June 2026 it counted 63 Consulates-General, 49 Honorary Consulates and 8 Officially Recognised Bodies. Each consulate's contact details are on its own page, and the list can be searched by country and category.

Consulates-General are headed by career consular officers. Honorary Consulates are headed by local people appointed by the state.

If your country has no consulate here, we found no official Hong Kong page saying where to go, and no Chinese-language contact for that case.

Where are emergency shelters announced?#

The Home Affairs Department (HAD) keeps a list of temporary shelters, marked updated in October 2026. District Officers open them as needed when Signal No. 8 or above, a landslip warning or a red or black rainstorm warning is in force, or in other emergencies. A release of 26 July 2026 listed open shelters in an annex and gave an emergency hotline, 2572 8427. HAD's own page names no emergency number; its Telephone Enquiry Centre is 2835 2500 in office hours.

For a major emergency such as a No. 3 or higher alarm fire, HAD says inter-departmental help desks are set up at the scene or in hospitals.

I am hurt or lost on a hike. Who do I call, and what location do I give?#

Dial 999. The Government Flying Service has no direct line: Police officers assess each call and decide what help to send.

Give your location, what happened, how many people need help, and each casualty's age, condition and medical history. Name the nearest distance post (AFCD says they stand about 500 m apart on the four long-distance trails and all country trails) or a landmark.

The Flying Service may ask you to share your location from your smartphone, by replying to its WhatsApp message. The HKSOS app needs its track function switched on before you set out. Hiking rules are on the Outdoor rules page.

Someone is drowning or in trouble in the sea. Who do I call?#

Dial 999. The Government lists "person drowning" among the calls the Police class as emergencies.

At beaches, GovHK (revised July 2025) says lifeguard services are provided at 39 of the 42 gazetted beaches managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Lifeguard hours and warning flags are on the Beaches and swimming page.

The Marine Department's Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, (852) 2233 7999, coordinates sea search and rescue. Its page is written for vessels in distress, not for swimmers.

Who do I call about domestic violence or child abuse?#

For police help, dial 999. If you suspect a child is being abused, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) gives its hotline, 2343 2255, and says you may also call the police.

For sexual violence it names the CEASE Crisis Centre, with a 24-hour hotline, 18281. The Family Crisis Support Centre has a 24-hour hotline, 18288, for people in crisis regardless of age, gender and race.

SWD says that when victims' safety is at risk, its social workers enlist the police and escort them to A&E. Domestic helpers: see the Working in Hong Kong as a domestic helper page.

Is the Social Welfare Department hotline open 24 hours?#

Two official sources differ. Shall We Talk (revised 4 September 2025) lists the SWD hotline, 2343 2255, as 24 hours.

An SWD leaflet (May 2024) says the hotline has a 24-hour interactive voice response system, and that its social workers are on duty 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday and 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturday. Outside those hours, including public holidays, callers can transfer to a Tung Wah Group of Hospitals team, leave a message or seek help from the police.

We do not pick between them. SWD's own FAQ and Family Crisis Support Centre pages mark 18281 and 18288 as 24-hour lines.

Where do I call in a mental health crisis?#

If you or people around you are harming themselves or others, Shall We Talk says to call 999 or go to an Accident and Emergency Department.

For immediate mental health support or referral it points to the Government's 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline, which answers by phone and by WhatsApp message to (852) 18111, 24 hours a day. The other helplines, their numbers and access to care are on the Seeing a doctor and who to call page.

What do I do if I smell gas?#

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) says to put out naked flames, avoid the telephone and electrical switches, open windows and doors, and turn off the emergency control valve upstream of the gas meter if possible. For an LPG cylinder, disconnect the regulator.

If the leak is serious or the situation is uncertain, leave at once by the stairs, knock on neighbours' doors, dial 999 to notify the Fire Services Department and call your gas supply company.

Towngas's own emergency hotline is 2880 6999. For bottled gas, EMSD lists each registered supplier's 24-hour emergency number on its page.

Who do I call about a burst water main or no water?#

The Water Supplies Department's Customer Services Hotline, 2824 5000, runs 24 hours throughout the year. After you choose a language (1 Cantonese, 2 Putonghua, 3 English, 4 Other Languages), keys 1-0-0 report a water main burst in Cantonese, 2-0-0 in Putonghua and 3-0-0 in English. Keys 1-0-1, 2-0-1 or 3-0-1 report a supply fault such as no water.

A hydrant leak can be left as a voice mail message.

What could we not confirm?#

Electricity: CLP's and HK Electric's own pages could not be read. An EMSD note on working near power lines (2015) lists CLP's 24-hour hotline as 2728 8333 and HK Electric's as 2555 4999 (Chinese) and 2555 4000 (English). Check the companies' pages.

Only partly confirmed: a 2023 release on a Police kiosk at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port and an MTR link for lost-property reports; a 2023 reply saying location information from the Enjoy Hiking app's Hiker Tracking Service was obtained in 33 search and rescue cases over three years.

No official page found: replacing a foreign passport here, and visitors registering for 992.