Tourists visit the archaeological site of Persepolis, northeast of the Iranian city of Shiraz, on Sept 27, 2018. (SARAH LAI / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government issued on Friday a red outbound travel alert on Iran due to the latest situation in the region.

Residents who intend to visit the country should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel

HKSAR government

The announcement came after a Ukraine International Airlines flight to Kiev from Tehran crashed on shortly after taking off on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

READ MORE: Ukrainian airplane crashes near Iran's capital, killing 176

"Residents who intend to visit the country should adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel, including leisure travel. Those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid large gatherings of people," said a government spokesperson in a statement issued on the HKSAR government website on Friday evening.

The SAR government's Security Bureau will closely monitor the situation there and any update will be issued through the bureau's mobile app and outbound travel alert webpage.

Hong Kong residents in Iran who need assistance may contact the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at 1868 or the Chinese Embassy in Iran, the spokesperson said.

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Hong Kong travelers are also advised to register their information with the outbound travel information service before departing.