We investigate the use of HI data to resolve the near/far ambiguity in kinematic distances of massive young stellar object (MYSO) candidates. Kinematic distances were obtained from ^13^CO 1-0 (and N_2_H^+^) spectral-line observations with the Mopra Telescope towards 94 candidates selected from the Red MSX Source (RMS) survey in the fourth Galactic quadrant (282{deg}<l<350{deg}). HI data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS) were used in conjunction with the HI self-absorption (SA) technique to determine the near or far distance. We resolved the kinematic distance ambiguity to 70 per cent of the sources. We can also simultaneously solve for any multiple line-of-sight component sources. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this technique in comparison with other methods, and also perform confidence checks on the reliability of using the HI SA technique.

Cone search capability for table J/MNRAS/366/1096/CO (Kinematic parameters of ^13^CO(1-0) parameters)