Wallis Wang
Last week's huge earthquake in Japan has not shaken Hongkongers intent on pushing through with their trips to the popular destination, with some saying their insurance policy would still cover them in case of a temblor.
Following a 7.1-magnitude tremor off Kyushu, the country's weather agency issued its first-ever warning that the likelihood of the long-feared Nankai Trough quake - a possible "mega quake" - had increased "by several times."
The SAR administration urged Hongkongers who were in Japan - or planning to visit - to stay vigilant.
However, a number of Hong Kong tourists decided to go ahead with their travel plans and departed from the Hong Kong International Airport to Japan yesterday, including a family of four heading to Fukuoka.
The father, Chan, said he is not worried as Fukuoka is far from the earthquake area in Miyazaki Prefecture, adding the family did not prepare a kit for a possible earthquake. Both prefectures are on southern Japan's Kyushu island, however.
"We are only equipped with a good mood for traveling," he said.
Chan said their trip would be covered by the insurance, as the family purchased travel insurance in advance.
Another woman, Shum, took her children on an 11-day trip to Osaka, as the flight tickets cannot be refunded.
"Even if there are earthquakes, they may be minor. But there is nothing we can do if we encounter a once-in-a-century earthquake," she said.
Shum said she has bought travel insurance and downloaded a mobile application that sends earthquake alerts. But she changed their itinerary to avoid going to beaches and opted to stay closer to the hotel instead.
A Hongkonger, Lee, who returned yesterday after visiting Hokkaido, Sendai and Tokyo, said she had already landed in the capital when the earthquake hit the coast of Miyazaki on Thursday.
"But the shaking only lasted for less than 10 seconds and had stopped before I realized what happened," said Lee.
Lee said her daughter will go on a road trip on Shikoku island tomorrow
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Federation of Insurers chief executive Selina Lau Pui-ling said some travel insurance policies purchased after the Miyazaki earthquake might not be effective if experts say the potential temblor is related to the earlier shock.
"If tourists buy travel insurance for trips to Japan now, the cancellation or delay caused by the earthquake may not be covered," she said.
"Travelers can be protected by the insurance if another new earthquake happens. However, if experts determine that the earthquake is related to the one on August 8, the insurance would not cover risks that already happened," she explained.
wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com
