Regarding the latest situation in Turkey, the Immigration Department (ImmD) yesterday (July 16) had immediately contacted the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, the Chinese Embassy in Turkey (CE), the Consulates-General of the People's Republic of China in Istanbul and Izmir (CGs), and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) and relevant airlines to follow up the incident.

     As at 11pm yesterday, the ImmD has received 14 assistance requests involving 30 Hong Kong residents stranded at Istanbul. They revealed that they were staying in safe place and wished to obtain the latest information of the airport and flight. The ImmD had reminded the assistance seekers in Turkey to attend to personal safety and provided them with the latest information, including the emergency contacts of CE and CGs. According to the information from CGs, they had deployed staff to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport and provided assistance to the Chinese citizens and Hong Kong residents there, including providing food and beverages and the latest flight and traffic information, etc.

     Besides, the ImmD has also received 5 assistance requests involving 17 Hong Kong residents who were stranded at Antalya due to the re-direct of flight from Istanbul. They revealed that they were staying in safe place and waiting for arrangement by the relevant airline.  According to the information from CGs, the relevant airline has provided food, beverages and accommodation to the Hong Kong residents there. The CGs will continue to provide practical assistance to those Hong Kong residents there.

     The ImmD has also requested the airline to assist those Hong Kong residents stranded to leave as soon as possible. The ImmD had issued the relevant information to remind those who had registered the “Registration for Outbound Travel Information” and are currently in Turkey or plan to travel to Turkey within one month to attend to personal safety. CE, CGs and the ImmD appeal to the Hong Kong residents in Turkey to stay in safe places and stay calm. Hong Kong residents who plan to visit Turkey or are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety, avoid travelling to places of large gatherings of people and pay attention to announcements by local authorities. The ImmD will remain in close contact with the aforesaid authorities, assistance seekers and their families to monitor the latest situation and follow the incident.

     Hong Kong residents in Turkey who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Turkey consular protection hotline (90) 5388215530 or Consulate-General in Istanbul consular protection hotline (90) 5313389459 or Consulate-General in Izmir consular protection hotline (90) 5358802656.

Ends/Sunday, July 17, 2016
Issued at HKT 2:09

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