Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Update on travel advice on visiting Thailand and requests for assistance
**********************************************************

     In view of the recent situation in Thailand, a spokesman for the Security Bureau today (December 3) reminded Hong Kong residents who planned to go to Thailand to pay close attention to the situation there.  The spokesman reiterated that residents should avoid travel to Bangkok.  Those already in Bangkok should attend to their personal safety.

     In the past two days, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government dispatched four charter flights to Pattaya to take Hong Kong residents back home.  The two charter flights on December 1 brought 82 persons home. Another two charter flights were mounted on December 2, one in the morning and the other in the evening, to pick up 89 and 41 people respectively.

     As at 9pm on December 2, the Immigration Department has received requests for assistance from a total of 939 Hong Kong residents. The Department has already dealt with most of these cases.  872 people have since come back or will return to Hong Kong shortly. Another 42 have indicated that they will make their own arrangements to come back to Hong Kong.

     The spokesman said: ˇ§Residents still in Bangkok who have difficulties in flying back to Hong Kong can call the Immigration Departmentˇ¦s hotline (852) 1868 for assistance.ˇ¨

     He called on local residents who have relatives or friends stranded in Bangkok to help send this information to them.

     ˇ§The Government will work closely with airlines to reserve seats on Hong Kong-bound flights for residents who have called us for help,ˇ¨ he said.

     ˇ§If the number of people seeking assistance goes up significantly, the charter flights service can be resumed readily.ˇ¨

Ends/Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 00:31

NNNN

Print this page