Britain prepares "contingency plans" for outcome of Greek debt deal referendum

Britain has prepared "contingency plans" for the "No" vote in the Greek debt deal referendum, warning UK nationals in Greece to take precautionary measures against the country's banking turmoil, Downing Street said Monday.

The Greek people on Sunday voted an overwhelming "No" in the referendum on a rescue package from creditors, raising the chance for the country to crash out of the eurozone.

"The Greek people expressed a decisive view in yesterday's referendum. This is a critical moment in the economic crisis in Greece. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our economic security at this uncertain time," a Downing Street spokesperson said Monday in a statement.

"We have already got contingency plans in place and later this morning the Prime Minister will chair a further meeting to review those plans in light of yesterday's result," the statement added.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced a prolonged bank holiday last week and restrictions on banking facilities under the recommendation of the central Bank of Greece.

In a travel notice for British citizens and businesses in Greece, the government said: "Visitors to Greece should be aware of the possibility that banking services, including credit card processing and servicing of ATMs, throughout Greece could potentially become limited at short notice."

"While banks are closed in Greece and some withdrawals are limited, make sure you take sufficient euros in cash to cover the duration of your stay, emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and any unexpected delays," the notice advised.

The British government said it would continue to monitor the situation closely. Endit