HONG KONG (AFP) -- Hong Kong police Friday stepped up security in the former British colony following the suicide car bomb attacks in Turkey.

"We are not able to comment on specific locations," a police spokeswoman said when asked whether patrols would be beefed up around the British Consulate and London-based HSBC bank, the targets of Thursday's attacks in Istanbul.

However, reports said patrols around the British consulate and HSBC in the business districts of Admiralty and Central were stepped up hours after the attacks occurred.

The twin blasts in the Turkish capital killed 27 people, including British consul general Roger Short, and injured at least 450 people.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told reporters that while Hong Kong was concerned about the attacks, residents need not panic.

"Hong Kong remains a safe city. Our assessment suggests that our chance of being attacked is not high, thus the public do not need to panic," said Lee.