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The first Cathay Pacific flight tasked to take Hong Kong residents stranded in Thailand back home from the Utapao Airport near Pattaya landed in Hong Kong tonight, a Government spokesman said today (November 28).
The second such flight is expected to arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (November 29), the spokesman added.
Hong Kong Express and Orient Thai Airlines also arranged two flights for today and tomorrow to ferry Hong Kong residents home from Pattaya.
The spokesman said: "We welcome the arrangements by the airlines, which brought about 500 passengers home today. We expect more passengers to be back tomorrow."
He reminded people concerned: "Those who want to take these flights should make prior reservation and confirm their seats with the airlines before setting off to the Utapao Airport."
Since the airport is very busy, passengers, especially individual visitors, will have to wait for seats on the plane home, though the airlines concerned have been trying hard to look into possible arrangements. Two Immigration Officers have already arrived in Bangkok to join staff of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents.
Although most parts of Bangkok are generally calm, the Security Bureau repeated its advice that Hong Kong residents should avoid unnecessary travel to Bangkok. Those who are already in Bangkok are reminded to attend to their personal safety and avoid places where there are demonstrations or large gatherings of people.
Hong Kong residents who need assistance may call the Chinese Embassy in Thailand at (66) 818214771 or (66) 819840658 or the Hong Kong Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Friday, November 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:30
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