Hong Kong raises the Travel Alert for Thailand (Bangkok) to Black
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     In view of the rapidly worsening situation in Bangkok, including several incidents of confrontation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (April 10) raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Thailand (Bangkok) to Black.  Residents are urged to avoid all travel to Bangkok. Those already there should attend to their personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people.

     The Government today again issued SMS over mobile phones to Hong Kong residents with roaming services in Thailand to remind them the OTA for Thailand (Bangkok) has been raised to black and residents there should attend to personal safety.

     A Government spokesman said,¡§The airline services from Bangkok to Hong Kong remain normal. Hong Kong residents in Bangkok who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Immigration Department (852)1868. Since the OTA was raised to red on March 10, the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department has received 315 enquiries and no request for assistance.

     The Security Bureau together with other relevant government bureaux and departments are closely monitoring the situation in Bangkok and surrounding areas. They have been in close liaison with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. Any update will be issued through the media and the OTA webpage (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota).

Ends/Saturday, April 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:54

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