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In view of the latest situation following a bomb explosion close to the Erawan Shrine in the centre of Bangkok, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 18) raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Bangkok, Thailand, to red. The OTA for other parts of Thailand remains at amber.
A government spokesman said, "Residents intending to visit Thailand (Bangkok) should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel. Those already there should pay attention to announcements by local authorities, attend to their personal safety and avoid areas affected by the explosion incident."
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 Thailand who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department on (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Thailand via the 24-hour consular protection hotline: (66) 854833327.
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, including by using SMS, in an emergency outside Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:01
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