Hong Kong cautions its citizens from travelling Pakistan

HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government has issued travel advisory to its citizens, asking them to adjust their plans and avoid non-essential travel to Pakistan.

According to ‘Outbound Travel Alert’ (OTA), it reads, “Residents intending to visit Pakistan should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel including leisure travel”.

Following is the travel advisory issued by Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, on its website;

The OTA further adds, “Those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people. Residents in Pakistan who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department at (852)1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan at 24-hour consular protection hotline: (92) 315-6060000.”

OTA has three categories with one classifying ‘Severe Threats’ to countries where travelling is risky owing to security threats; next comes ‘Significant Threat’ where travellers are discouraged from non-essential visits and the last category is ‘Signs of Threats’ which presses passengers to exercise caution.

Hong Kong is the third biggest direct foreign investor of Pakistan and this travel alert can harm the business interests at a time when PML N government is trying hard to spur economic growth.