Hong Kong - The Hong Kong government was arranging emergency flights Monday to repatriate hundreds of its citizens stranded in Thailand by protestors who closed Bangkok's two main airports.

A senior government official said three planes would be chartered to a provincial military base near Bangkok because of concerns that the security situation in the Thai capital might deteriorate in the coming days.

Around 800 Hong Kong people have been stranded in Thailand since the airports were occupied by anti-government protesters last week.

Hong Kong's secretary for security Chang King-yiu said the government reversed an earlier decision not to arrange evacuation flights because of fears over possible violence in the coming days.

"The political situation has remained unstable and there are indications violence may aggravate in the coming few days," Chang said. "We are anxious to get Hong Kong residents back home as soon as possible."

Chang said the government hoped to charter three planes through airlines Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express to fly around 500 Hong Kong residents home by the end of Monday.

Cathay Pacific has already laid on a number of emergency flights from Thailand's U-Tapao military air base.

Thailand is less than 2.5 hours flight time from Hong Kong and is a popular holiday and weekend destination for residents of the wealthy city of 6.9 million. (dpa)