Regarding the latest situation in Turkey, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has continued to follow up the incident through the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in Turkey (CE), the Consulates-General of the People's Republic of China in Istanbul and Izmir (CGs), the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and relevant airlines.

     As at 9pm today (July 17), the ImmD has received 15 assistance requests involving 31 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. Under assistance, 24 out of the 31 Hong Kong residents have left Istanbul safely either returning to Hong Kong or proceeding to other destinations to continue their journeys. The remaining seven Hong Kong residents temporarily chose to stay in Istanbul. The ImmD will continue to maintain close contact with them for providing assistance.

     Besides, the ImmD has also received eight assistance requests involving 22 Hong Kong residents who were stranded at Antalya due to the re-direct of flight from Istanbul. Twenty out of the 22 Hong Kong residents have left Antalya to other destinations to continue their journeys. The remaining will leave Antalya soon under the arrangement of the airlines.
  
     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 up 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, 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 22:16

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