Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has recommended the revocation of Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport as Bangkok was becoming increasingly nervous about the activities of the former premier and his wife Pojaman, a source said yesterday.

The source said the latest move to rid Thaksin of his diplomatic status came after he and Pojaman, who have been popping up in various cities around the world, surfaced in a Hong Kong shopping mall where they were hounded by journalists and photographers.

The source said the government is concerned about a possible hidden agenda behind Thaksin's movements abroad.

Surayud was also said to be an-noyed by the reception that Thai-land's consulate in Hong Kong had given to Thaksin, the source said.

Nevertheless, the issue will be forwarded to Foreign Minister Nitya Phibulsonggram for consideration.

However, Nitya has in the past downplayed the suggestion that Thaksin's red passport be revoked on the ground that Thaksin's possession of the passport was in line with normal practice.

He pointed out that all former prime ministers were permitted to use the passport even if they had been ousted in a coup.

Thaksin told a group of reporters as he shopped at an upscale mall in Hong Kong that he had no plans to return home and that he would travel to Bali next.

"I have no plans to go back to Bangkok," he said.

Looking relaxed in a dark suit and a white shirt, Thaksin said he enjoyed spending his time shopping and eating in Hong Kong.

"Good shopping, good food," he said. He spent a few minutes inside a luxury watch shop, but did not buy anything.

Thaksin said he would leave for Bali today, but didn't say what he planned to do there.

It was the second day Thaksin had been spotted shopping at the mall. The front page of yesterday's Oriental Daily News was peppered with photos of Thaksin holding hands with his wife as they strolled through a shopping centre on Monday. One picture showed him trying on a dark blazer in a Marc Jacobs store.

The paper, which quoted Thaksin as saying he arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, said he joked with its reporter and photographer, saying, "I need a job because I'm unemployed now".

Chaturon Chaisaeng, the acting leader of Thaksin's former ruling Thai Rak Thai party, said in Bangkok that "[Thaksin] is in Hong Kong, but I do not know about his itinerary".

But according to a Thai Rak Thai source, Thaksin will spend only a few days in Bali and afterwards leave for Singapore, where he will be meeting with senior members of the party, as well as celebrating Pojaman's birthday next Wednesday.

The Thai consul general in Hong Kong declined to discuss the visit.

"I have no capacity to give any comments about the former prime minister's private trip to Hong Kong," said Waramon Waruttma.

Thaksin said he would wait until Thailand was more stable before he returned home, the Chinese-language Oriental Daily reported.

The former leader had been living in London, where he owns an apartment, since being deposed by a military coup in September.

Thaksin asked how the paper found out he was in Hong Kong. He had eluded most other local media, notorious for being aggressive and extremely efficient at tracking celebrities.

Yesterday, he disappeared into an office building occupied mostly by lawyers and accountants for about two hours. He declined to say what he did inside when he emerged.

"I have my lawyers in Thailand, not here," he said.

Surayud had said Thaksin should not return to Thailand until after general elections scheduled for a year from now, saying his reappearance could spark clashes.

The coup leaders have accused Thaksin of massive corruption and abuse of power. They have set up several anti-graft bodies to investigate the former government's alleged wrongdoing.

The Nation, AP