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A Government spokesman today (May 17) reminded Hong Kong residents now in Vietnam to monitor the situation, exercise caution and attend to personal safety.
There may be countrywide mass demonstrations in various cities in Vietnam tomorrow including Hanoi and locations in front of the People's Committee Office and the park near the Reunification Palace and Diamond Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Security Bureau issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Vietnam on May 15. Residents intending to visit Vietnam should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel. Those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people.
The HKSAR Government is liaising closely with the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR (OCMFA) to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents through the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in Vietnam. As at 5pm today, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has received eight requests for assistance.
The ImmD has immediately contacted the OCMFA, the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Chinese Consulate General to provide advice and assistance. All Hong Kong residents who requested for assistance are safe. The majority of the residents has returned, or will shortly return, to Hong Kong while others would remain in Vietnam at this stage. Currently, international airports in Vietnam and flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam maintain normal operation.
The Security Bureau will continue to monitor the situation there. Any update will be issued through the media and the bureau's OTA webpage, www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota .
Hong Kong residents in Vietnam who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in Vietnam (Chinese Embassy in Vietnam consular protection hotline: (84) 903474865/903441338, Chinese Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City consular protection hotline: (84) 938882098/908002226; please add "0" in front of the number if dial locally.)
In addition, Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the on-line Registration of Outbound Travel Information (ROTI) service (www.gov.hk/roti) to register their contact details and itinerary before travelling outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the AHU of the Hong Kong Immigration Department to contact and assist them in an emergency outside Hong Kong.
Ends/Saturday, May 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:28
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