S'poreans advised to avoid Hong Kong airport, border town due to ongoing protests: MFA

Stay safe, Singaporeans.

Belmont Lay | July 26, 2019, 10:35 AM

Singaporeans are advised to avoid travelling to Hong Kong's airport and the rural town of Yuen Long due to upcoming planned protests to be held in these areas over the weekend.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a travel advisory on Friday, July 26, urging Singaporeans to avoid the Hong Kong International Airport and Yuen Long in the New Territories.

What protesters are planning

Pro-democracy activists are planning to protest inside Hong Kong's airport arrival gates on Friday.

Activists are also planning to hold a protest on Saturday in Yuen Long.

This was where a gang of men in white t-shirts assaulted protesters on Sunday, July 21 in a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station and on a train, resulting in at least 45 people to be sent to hospital.

A series of marches are to be held on Sunday.

Protests extends to calls for greater reforms

Hong Kong has been gripped by a paroxysm of violence in recent weeks triggered initially by a controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but have since evolved into a call for wider democratic reforms.

MFA advised Singaporeans in Hong Kong to stay alert.

MFA wrote: "Protests which are meant to be peaceful may still have the potential to turn violent with little or no notice."

Singaporeans should be monitoring developments through the local news, heeding the instructions of local authorities and following the Hong Kong Police Force on their social media accounts for the latest updates.

MFA also urged Singaporeans to avoid protests and large public gatherings and to stay in touch with friends and family, MFA said.

Singaporeans in Hong Kong are also encouraged to eRegister with MFA so that they can be contacted by the ministry if necessary.

This is the full MFA advisory:

Following reports of an upcoming protest at the Hong Kong International Airport commencing at 1 pm on 26 July 2019, and at Yuen Long in the New Territories on 27 July 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would advise Singaporeans to avoid these locations at these times. In recent weeks, several large-scale protests have taken place at multiple venues in Hong Kong. Although mostly peaceful and orderly, cases of localised clashes following these protests were reported. Protests which are meant to be peaceful may still have the potential to turn violent with little or no notice.

If you are already in Hong Kong, you should take all necessary precautions to ensure your personal safety. You are advised to stay vigilant, monitor developments through the local news, and heed the instructions of the local authorities. You may wish to follow the Hong Kong Police Force on their social media accounts (https://www.facebook.com/hongkongpoliceforce and https://twitter.com/hkpoliceforce)

for latest updates. You should avoid protests and large public gatherings, and stay in touch with your family and friends so that they know you are safe.

Singaporeans in Hong Kong are encouraged to eRegister with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ to enable us to contact you should the need arise.

Those who require consular assistance can contact the Singapore Consulate-General in Hong Kong, or the MFA Duty Office (24hrs) at:

Singapore Consulate-General in Hong Kong

Tel: +852-2527-2212 or +852-9466-1251 (after office hours)

Fax: +852-2861-3595

Email: [email protected]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours)

Tanglin, Singapore 248163

Telephone: +65 6379 8800 / 8855

Email: [email protected]