Immigration Department has received calls for assistance from 16 residents staying in Middle Eastern country as Israeli soldiers battle Hamas fighters.
Hongkongers in Israel have been urged to maintain contact with the Chinese embassy and follow other official instructions as the country’s top diplomat in the city warned of an escalation in hostilities after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Saturday.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department told the Post it had received calls for assistance from 16 residents staying in the Middle Eastern country as of 8am on Sunday, but stopped short of naming what concerns were raised.
Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people had been killed, while in Gaza officials said 313 people had died, according to wire services. No reports have emerged of Hongkongers injured in the escalating violence.
Amir Lati, Israel’s consul general in Hong Kong, advised the city’s residents in the country to follow the instructions of his government.
“I suggest them to follow the official instructions published in Israel and be in touch with their embassy,” Lati told the Post, while calling the Hamas operation “a cowardly attack against civilians”.
He warned of an escalation of violence, arguing it was the duty of every government to protect its citizens against any terrorist attack.
“What we know is that yesterday there was a vicious terrorist attack … [on] the Jewish and Israelis in towns in Israel,” he said. “There are hundreds of casualties. Civilians were slaughtered, civilians were taken as hostages and brought … back to the Gaza Strip.
