The Town You Are not Allowed to Enter

Hongkongers have always benefited from a high level of freedom of movement. Whether you want to experience the frantic activity of Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, or prefer the peace and quiet atop Hong Kong’s mountains, no one will prevent you from doing so.

This is true across the territory, with one notable exception: the town of Sha Tau Kok on the northeastern tip of the New Territories. Located right against the boundary of Shenzhen's Yantian District, the town-along with other towns-was surrounded by a Frontier Closed Area (FCA) created by the colonial government in 1951 to curb smuggling, illegal immigration, and other criminal activities.

Between 2008 and 2016, however, the government of Hong Kong reduced this FCA by 85%, leaving Sha Tau Kok as the only fully developed town in Hong Kong that remains restricted. In June 2022, the government further eased restrictions by opening the Sha Tau Kok Pier to registered tour groups on weekends and public holidays. In January 2024, the government eventually opened nearly the entire town to independent travelers, provided they applied in advance for a Tourism Closed Area Permit (T-Cap).

As of 2026, only Chung Ying Street remains off-limits to non-residents due to the absence of a physical border barrier with Mainland China.