Hong Kong -
Hong Kong suspended all package tours to
Bangkok Thursday after the government issued a red
travel alert on the Thai capital ahead of expected anti-government protests this weekend. The decision was made at an urgent meeting by the Travel Industry Council late Wednesday.
It followed an announcement earlier in the day by the Hong Kong government, advising people not to travel to the city after the Thai government imposed a tough
security law ahead of possible large-scale protests by supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
A Travel Industry Council spokesman said the ban on tours was expected to last one week but the situation would be monitored and a decision on extending the ban would be made next week.
The red travel alert urges people to avoid non-essential travel because of a significant threat. It is the first red alert issued by the government since the system was set up in October.
The Internal Security Law imposed by the Thai government allows authorities to deploy troops March 11-23 on the streets during mass demonstrations and to impose a curfew.
The act took effect Thursday prior to planned demonstrations beginning this weekend by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), calling on the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign.
