In this March 25, 2020, photo, India Gate is seen from the Raisina Hills with clear sky in New Delhi, India.  (MANISH SWARUP/AP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's government said on Saturday that it is arranging chartered flights to repatriate thousands of Hong Kong residents stranded in India and Pakistan.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: 65 HK residents stranded in Peru return home

Since late March, India and Pakistan have banned all international flight movements to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The appeal for help from stranded Hong Kong residents has been a matter of concern by local politicians and social organizations.

A spokesman for the HKSAR government said it has successfully contacted around 3,200 residents in India and 2,000 in Pakistan for preliminary information of their whereabouts and conditions

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, a spokesman for the HKSAR government said it has successfully contacted around 3,200 residents in India and 2,000 in Pakistan for preliminary information of their whereabouts and conditions.

Currently, India has imposed strict restrictions on land and air traffic across the nation, and all travel must be approved by relevant authorities. There is no restrictions on domestic transportation in Pakistan but all international flights have been banned, the spokesman said.     

The spokesman said the government would arrange to bring back stranded residents in phases, taken into consideration flight restrictions, as well as testing capacities and availability of quarantine facilities in Hong Kong.

ALSO READ: First batch of 244 stranded residents return from Hubei

The government aimed to first bring back on chartered flights Hong Kong residents who are now located in New Delhi, the capital of India, or those in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and their surrounding areas. Those with special needs such as people with illness, pregnant women, children and the elderly will also be assisted first, the spokesman said.

The cost for taking the chartered flights will be borne by the users.

The spokesman said detailed arrangements such as departure dates are still pending, subject to factors including traffic restrictions in the respective countries and epidemic situations there.

The SAR government will continue to follow up closely with the Chinese embassies in India and Pakistan, as well as the consulates-general of the two countries in Hong Kong. Updates will be sent to affected Hong Kong residents as soon as any concrete arrangement is confirmed, the spokesman said.