New | Hong Kong travellers warned to avoid protests as martial law declared in Thailand
Travel alert remains at amber; visitors also advised to stay away from crowds
Hong Kong travellers in Thailand have been reminded to stay away from protests and crowded areas after the country’s army declared martial law in the early hours of Tuesday.
The travel alert for Hongkongers remains at amber – the lowest of the three-level alert system.
The executive director of the Travel Industry Council, Joseph Tung Yao-chung, said that about 500 Hongkongers in more than 20 tour groups are in Thailand at the moment. About seven to eight groups, or 100 people, are expected to depart for the country today. No tour group has been cancelled yet.
“Travellers should avoid going near protest zones, and when they are on their own, don’t go to crowded areas,” Tung said.
Lai Tung-kwok, the secretary for security, said on Tuesday that for now the situation on the ground in Thailand remained normal, and that there is sufficient space on flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok in the event that Hongkongers need to leave the country.
“We will closely monitor the situation, and will release any new information as soon as possible,” the Security Bureau said in a statement, adding that it was not ruling out the possibility of raising the alert.