Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government issued here Monday a travel warning to urge Hong Kong residents not to go to Bangkok, citing "rapidly worsening situation" there.
Hong Kong residents who are already in Thailand, in particular Bangkok, were advised to pay close attention to the situation there and stay away from large crowds or protesters.
Hong Kong residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kongmay call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868.
Thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand stormed into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit venue on Saturday, forcing the Thai government to call off the summit meetings with its dialogue partners China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, India and New Zealand.
A furious mob attacked government offices in Bangkok following Thai government's arresting of the leader of Arisman Pongruengrong, the red-shirted demonstrators on Sunday.
The political unrest in Thailand has been ongoing since former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was removed by a military coup in 2006.
In November last year, swarms of anti-government demonstrators or called as "yellow-shirted protesters, marched to the streets and shut down the country's main international airport for one week.
After a court ordered the removal of the previous pro-Thaksin government, Abhisit was appointed by Parliament in December, prompting displeased Thaksin supporters to stage regular street protests.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2009)
