Hong Kong. August 23, 2010. Following the hostage taking incident in the Philippines which had caused casualties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for the Philippines to Black. A Government spokesman urged Hong Kong residents to avoid all travel to the Philippines. Those already there should attend to their personal safety and stay alert.
The Government has organised charter flights for the relatives of the hostages to fly to Manila. Medical staff, social workers and clinical psychologists would also be on board. The Government, through the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, urged tour groups in the Philippines to immediately return to Hong Kong. Tour groups which are due to depart Hong Kong are advised to cancel their trips.
Residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong may call the hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852)1868. (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota) – ?