The head of a hotel owners' group on Thursday said that other countries in Asia are suffering from a problem with bed bugs and the critters are "rife" in Europe, but they're not a big issue in Hong Kong.

Caspar Tsui, executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, told government officials at a meeting that to his knowledge, the bed bug situation in South East Asia has got worse, including in Singapore and Indonesia.

He said Hong Kong is not suffering as badly, but hotels are keeping a close eye on the matter in case this changes.

Tsui urged officials not to focus on hotels when it comes to the threat of a bed bug invasion, saying they should instead look to the transport sector and the general public to help keep the creatures out of the territory.

"If you get on ferries, cruises and airplanes for a few hours, your backpacks end up with other people's luggage for a few hours, will the bugs jump from one to another?" Tsui asked on a Commercial Radio programme.

"So if you want to control the situation at source... you need to strengthen public education."

Tsui said travellers should avoid opening their luggage on beds, suggesting they unpack their belongings in the bath instead.