The US on Tuesday issued new travel advisory warnings to China and Hong Kong, citing the risk of arbitrary detention and arbitrary application of local laws, the Associated Press reported.

The new guidance warns US citizens that China is imposing arbitrary detentions and travel bans to force them to cooperate with investigators, pressure family members to return to China from abroad, influence civil disputes, and to get leverage over foreign governments.

US citizens traveling or residing in China or Hong Kong may be detained without access to US consular services or information about the crime they are accused of. US citizens can be subjected to lengthy interrogation and detention without due process of law, says the new guide.

The warning also notes that while in Hong Kong, US citizens are emphatically warned to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid demonstrations.