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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Britons in Japan offered flights to Hong Kong | Britons in Japan offered flights to Hong Kong |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government is chartering planes to fly from Tokyo to Hong Kong to help Britons who want to leave Japan. | The government is chartering planes to fly from Tokyo to Hong Kong to help Britons who want to leave Japan. |
| The Foreign Office said there would be no charge for Britons "directly affected" by the tsunami. A charge of £600 will otherwise apply. | The Foreign Office said there would be no charge for Britons "directly affected" by the tsunami. A charge of £600 will otherwise apply. |
| A statement said: "We continue to advise against all non essential travel to Tokyo and north eastern Japan. | A statement said: "We continue to advise against all non essential travel to Tokyo and north eastern Japan. |
| "British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area." | "British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area." |
| Japan's east coast has been devastated by a tsunami which followed an earthquake last Friday. | |
| Power cuts | |
| The damage has been compounded by fears of a radiation leak after several reactors at a nuclear power station at Fukushima overheated. | |
| There are also power cuts and water shortages, making life very uncomfortable for expats and residents alike. | |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK government is chartering flights from Tokyo to Hong Kong to supplement commercially available options for those wishing to leave Japan. | |
| "The first option for leaving Japan should remain commercial routes. Commercial flights continue to operate to and from Japan. British nationals with commercial flight bookings should continue to use these flights and you should continue to make reservation and other arrangements with your airline as usual. | |
| "If you wish to leave and cannot secure tickets for a commercial flight, you can register your interest in using our charter option to leave Japan by calling 44 20 7008 6900." |