No new requests for assistance from Hong Kong travellers in Bangkok
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     By the second day after the Government issued a travel warning on Bangkok on April 13, the Immigration Department had received 19 requests for assistance from people seeking help to return to Hong Kong early.  These requests were all resolved the same day, a government spokesman said today (April 15).

     "In the past day, no new request for assistance was received by the department," he said.

     Up to 4pm today, the department had received 210 general enquiries.

     The spokesman said, "The travel warning on Bangkok is still in force given the situation in the Thai capital is not entirely clear.  We will continue to closely monitor developments.

     "Hong Kong residents who are in Bangkok should attend to their personal safety and avoid places of protest and large gatherings of people," he said.

     Bangkok airport is operating normally and most Hong Kong residents who travelled to Bangkok during the Easter holiday have already returned home. A total of 21 flights will depart for Hong Kong from Bangkok tomorrow (April 16), which can carry about 6,000 passengers.  There are still hundreds of seats available for booking.  Hong Kong residents now in Bangkok can contact their airlines if they want to return home early.

     Residents who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868.

Ends/Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:27

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