The remaining four members of the Hong Kong Government support team in Phuket will return on January 23, the Security Bureau says.

As the situation in Phuket has stabilised, and in the light of falling demand for the service, the three round-the-clock telephone hotline services in Thailand will cease operation at midnight on January 22.

The Government said it will continue to follow up all outstanding cases and provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents, who can call the Immigration Department's hotline at 2829 3010.

As at noon today, the hotline received 877 enquiries and 1,425 requests for assistance. There remains 33 missing Hong Kong residents, of whom 31 were reported to be in Thailand and two in Indonesia. Twelve Hong Kong residents are confirmed dead.

Police will continue to contact relatives of missing Hong Kong people for the collection of DNA samples. The Police have so far taken samples from 27 family members of the missing.