Is it safe to withdraw cash in Hong Kong or not?
Stayed near Fortress Hill and used Bank of China and HSBC ATMs late at night a few times. I stuck to ATMs located inside buildings or attached to major banks. The ones on quiet corners or next to closed shops looked sketchier at night so I avoided those. I also made sure to keep my transactions quick and not take out too much at once. Never had a problem but I always planned ahead so I didn’t have to rely on night withdrawals unless necessary.
I was in Kowloon for a week and used a Jetco ATM near my hostel in Yau Ma Tei around 11 pm. The area was still busy and the ATM was inside a 7 Eleven. I kept an eye out and made sure no one was behind me. No one bothered me and the machine worked fine. Just make sure to keep your card and money secure right after the transaction. Hong Kong is pretty safe but that does not mean you should let your guard down completely.
Just got back from Hong Kong last month and I used ATMs late at night around Central and Sheung Wan without any issues. I usually picked ones at HSBC or Hang Seng branches that had security cameras and were inside a lit lobby. Some even required you to swipe your card just to get inside which felt safer. I’m a solo female traveler and honestly I felt more comfortable withdrawing cash in Hong Kong at night than in a lot of other big cities.
I stayed in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui earlier this year and used ATMs at night a few times when I needed cash. Most machines are located inside 24 hour convenience stores like 7 Eleven or Circle K, or attached to banks on busy streets. I never felt unsafe but I always made sure the area was well lit and had some foot traffic. I avoided using standalone ATMs tucked away in alleys or near closed shops. As long as you use common sense, night withdrawals are fine in most central areas.