Hong Kong: tap water is treated but bottled or filtered water is the safer default.
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Tap water is treated to safe standards, but aging building pipes can affect quality — many residents boil or filter water; bottled water is a safe default for visitors.
Extend the same caution to ice as to tap water in Hong Kong — it's easy to overlook, but ice carries the same risk unless you know it's made from purified water.
Brushing your teeth with tap water is usually fine even where drinking it isn't recommended, but if you want to be extra cautious in Hong Kong, use bottled water for that too.
Sealed bottled water from a reputable brand is widely available and the simplest safe option in Hong Kong — just check the seal is intact before drinking.
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