appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Danny Lee

Lana Lam

Joyce Ng

Hong Kong hoisted an amber travel alert for France, urging Hong Kong residents to avoid non-essential travel to Paris and the Ile de France area.
The alert, the lowest of three risk warnings, is the first to be issued to a major western country for at least seven years.
In a statement the Security Bureau said: "Residents who plan to visit France 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 advice of the local authorities.
"Hong Kong residents should avoid non-essential travel to Paris and the Ile de France area."
READ MORE: Massacre in Paris: At least 120 killed and more than 200 injured in coordinated terror attacks, assailants 'neutralized'
Travel arrangements to Paris remain unaffected for tour groups and airlines flying between Paris and Hong Kong despite attacks. Dozens of Hong Kong tour groups to France will continue with their trips and flights to the French capital will continue to take-off.
As of 8.30am, there was no reports of Chinese casualties, state-run Xinhua news agency said, citing the Chinese embassy in the French capital. Hong Kong’s Immigration Department said it had not yet received calls for help through the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) hotline.
Ten tour groups from Hong Kong with a total of about 250 people were currently in Paris and all have reported they are safe, said Joseph Tung Yao-chung, Travel Industry Council executive director.
“All members are safe and resting in hotels now,” he told the South China Morning Post this morning.
It is not known how many individual travelers from Hong Kong are in Paris, he said.
Tung added that any Hong Kong residents who have already booked trips to Paris can contact their travel agencies to re-schedule or adjust their itineraries.
Jacky Cheung Shun-lai, spokesman for Kuoni, Travel, says his company will have two tours now in Europe that will reach Paris in the next few days. “There are no popular tourist spots near the hostage area. We will see how the situation develops and decide whether the tour should avoid Paris.”
The company will not cancel other tours to France unless the government issues a travel alert, Cheung adds.

Hong Thai Travel Services says the company has one tour of 15 members now in Paris and all are safe. They will continue their journey and return to Hong Kong next week.
Miramar Travel has five tours in Paris at the moment and they will not change their itinerary because the major tourist sights were still open.
Cathay Pacific Airways, which operates 10 weekly flights to Charles de Gaulle airport, said it was checking to confirm dozens of staff, including pilots, cabin crew and Paris-based ground staff were safe. A spokeswoman said this procedure was standard practice following security or disaster events.
The airline announced on Twitter: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the city of Paris. Flights between HK & Paris remain normal."
Our thoughts and prayers are with the city of Paris. Flights between HK & Paris remain normal. Visit our website for latest flight status.
— Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) November 14, 2015
Air France, which operates a daily service between Paris and Hong Kong, said immediately after the attack that it would maintain its normal flights schedule in the face of at least one U.S. airline delaying flights. The airline warned of extra security checks for departing and arriving passengers at French land, air and sea borders.
Shum Wai-nam, a Hong Kong activist who just landed in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris at about HKT 4pm, said immigration clearance was smooth. “Security check didn’t step up much, but there are many armed soldiers guarding the arrival hall.”
Shum, who will stay in Paris for one night before heading to Geneva for a United Nations human rights hearing, said he felt “complicated” when he heard about news of the attack on the plane. 
Hong Kong’s terrorist threat alert remained moderate, and authorities revealed it was well-prepared to handle an attack following a recent counter-terrorism exercise. Meanwhile, the city’s outbound travel threat alert for France has not yet been activated.
READ MORE: President Xi Jinping condemns 'barbaric' terrorist attacks in Paris as world leaders offer condolences and support
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris and expressed his deepest sympathies on the loss of lives and injuries and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
"While the level of terrorist threat in Hong Kong remains moderate, the Government will stay vigilant and well prepared to protect the lives and property of our public in view of the fast-changing international and regional security landscapes," the Chief Executive said.
The government urged Hongkongers to pay attention to personal safety, exercise caution and listen to announcements by French authorities.
Hong Kong residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong can call the 24-hour Immigration Department hotline of AHU at +(852) 1868 or contact the Chinese Embassy in France at consular protection hotline: +(33) 615742537.


Lone surviving attacker in Paris massacre guilty of murder, jailed for life

Suspected Paris attack accomplices go on trial in Belgium over 2015 killing spree

Paris attacks suspect cries as he apologises to victims, asks for forgiveness

French surgeon tries to sell X-ray of 2015 Bataclan concert victim as digital artwork

Paris terror attacks

Hong Kong issues travel alert for France, warns against 'non-essential' trips to Paris

People mourn the dead at a makeshift memorial near the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, two days after a series of deadly attacks. Photo: AFP

A couple conforts each other outside the Bataclan concert hall after a shooting in Paris, France. Photo: AP

Police officers gather outside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris, France. Photo: EPA

Jacky Cheung Shun-lai, spokesman for Kuoni, Travel, says there are no popular tourist spots near the hostage area adn the travel company will see how the situation develops and decide whether the tour should avoid Paris.

Pictures of victims are placed behind candles  outside the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. Photo: AP

American rock group Eagles of Death Metal perform on stage at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, few moments before four men armed with assault rifles and shouting "Allahu akbar" (God is great!) stormed into the venue. Photo: AFP

Medical staff carry the body of a victim in front of the Bataclan theatre in Paris. Photo: EPA

Police officers gather outside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris. Photo: EPA

'An act of war': French President Hollande vows to strike back at Islamic State for terror attacks in Paris that killed at least 127

A forensic scientist inspects outside of the Cafe Bonne Biere on Rue du Faubourg du Temple in Paris following a series of coordinated attacks in and around Paris late Friday. photo: AFP

Forensic scientists and police inspect the Cafe Bonne Biere. According to witnesses, at least 5 people were killed in the immediate area by attackers wielding automatic rifles. Photo: AFP

Gunmen had held concert goers at the Bataclan concert hall hostage, killing almost 100 people inside. At the same time, bombings were carried out in at least five other locations in the city. Photo: AP

Rescuers evacuate people following an attack in Paris. Photo: AFP

French Red Cross rescue workers evacuate an injured person near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris after a series of attacks in the French capital. Photo: AFP

French Red Cross rescue workers evacuate an injured person near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris, on November 13, 2015. At least 39 people were killed in an "unprecedented" series of bombings and shootings across Paris and at the Stade de France stadium on November 13. AFP PHOTO / DOMINIQUE FAGET

French President Francois Hollande (centre) addresses reporters near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris. Photo: AFP

A person is being evacuated from the Bataclan theater after a shooting in Paris, Friday Nov. 13, 2015. French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced that he was closing the country's borders. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Soldiers and police officers secure the area near La Belle Equipe, rue de Charonne, at the site of an attack on Paris on November 14, 2015 after a series of gun attacks occurred across Paris as well as explosions outside the national stadium where France was hosting Germany. More than 100 people were killed in a mass hostage-taking at a Paris concert hall and many more were feared dead in a series of bombings and shootings, as France declared a national state of emergency. AFP PHOTO / PIERRE CONSTANT

TOPSHOTS Forensic experts inspect the site of an attack outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, early on November 14, 2015, after a series of gun attacks occurred across Paris as well as explosions outside the national stadium where France was hosting Germany. A number of people were killed and others injured in a series of gun attacks across Paris, as well as explosions outside the national stadium where France was hosting Germany. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Forensic police search for evidences outside the La Belle Equipe cafe, rue de Charonne, at the site of an attack in Paris. Photo: AFP

People hug on the street near the Bataclan concert hall following fatal attacks in Paris, France. Photo: Reuters

Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre in Paris. Photo: EPA

Outside the Bataclan theater in Paris. Photo: AP

People are evacuated by bus outside the scene of an attack at the Bataclan theatre in Paris, France. Photo: EPA

Mourners in Hong Kong hold candles during a vigil held for the victims of the Paris attacks. Photo: EPA

President Xi Jinping condemns 'barbaric' terrorist attacks in Paris as world leaders offer condolences and support

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered his condolences to the victims and their families in a telephone call to Hollande. Photo: Reuters

President Barack Obama said the US shares the values of France as he expressed support the country after the Paris attacks. Photo: EPA

French President Francois Hollande, left, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrive to watch the international friendly soccer match France against Germany at the Stade de France stadium. Photo: AP

Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, said she was “deeply shaken” by the attacks in Paris. Photo: Bloomberg

People attend a vigil outside the French consulate in Montreal, Canada. Photo: AP

New York's One World Trade Center's spire is shown lit in French flags colours of white, blue and red in solidarity with France after tonight's terror attacks in Paris. Photo: AFP

French president Francois Hollande makes a statement at the Elysee palace in Paris, France following a series of attacks in Paris. Photo: EPA

Shanghai's landmark building The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is lit up in blue, white and red, the colours of the French flag, following the Paris attacks. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan's landmark building Taipei 101 is lit up in blue, white and red, the colours of the French flag, following the Paris attacks. Photo: Reuters

People stop to look at the sails of the Sydney Opera House that are lit in the colours of the French flag in Sydney. Photo: AP

Malaysia's landmark KL Tower is lit up in red, white and blue, resembling the colours of the French flag, in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

‘It was a bloodbath’: French witnesses describes ‘10 horrific minutes’ at packed concert venue in Paris

An injured man talks on the phone next to the Bataclan in Paris where a shooting and a hostage situation took place. Photo: EPA

A person is being evacuated after a shooting, outside the Bataclan theater in Paris, Friday Nov. 13, 2015. French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency and announced that he was closing the country's borders. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall. Photo: AFP

Firefighters evacuate an injured person near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris. Photo: AFP

A person is taken after a shooting at the Bataclan theatre in Paris. Photo: AP

French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall following fatal shootings in Paris. Photo: Reuters

News

Hong Kong

Hongkongers seeking assistance abroad can call the 24-hour ImmD hotline at +(852) 1868 or Chinese Embassy in France: +(33) 615742537.


Hong Kong issues travel alert for France, warns against 'non-essential' trips to Paris

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hongkongers seeking assistance abroad can call the 24-hour ImmD hotline at +(852) 1868 or Chinese Embassy in France: +(33) 615742537.

Hongkongers seeking assistance abroad can call the 24-hour ImmD hotline at +(852) 1868 or Chinese Embassy in France: +(33) 615742537.