An airline pilot has suggested that aviation security rules, as cited in an Airport Authority report about the handling of the Chief Executive’s daughter’s lost luggage, may have been broken.
The report released on Monday referred to an incident last month whereby Leung Chung-yan was able to bypass security procedures – allegedly with the help of her father – to retrieve forgotten hand baggage from the airport’s restricted area. Airline staff members helped deliver the luggage to Ms Leung after security screenings. The incident sparked protests, though Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme on Tuesday, airline pilot and Civic Party member Jeremy Tam Man-ho said that the Airport Authority report on the incident revealed a restricted document that highlighted violations with existing regulations.
Tam said, previously, the document was neither public nor obtainable.
“We have been wondering if there are any laws in Hong Kong saying clearly that all baggage has to go through security checks in the presence of the passenger” he said.
The report included a page of the Hong Kong Aviation Security Programme drafted by the Security Bureau, with respect to the Aviation Security Ordinance. In point 6.2.10, it said that “all screening of cabin baggage shall be conducted in the presence of the passenger.”
“This part ‘shot down’ the whole report in less than 24 hours’ time,” Tam said.
Anyone violating the Hong Kong Aviation Security Programme may be subjected to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for two years upon conviction on indictment.
The report suggested that the Airport Authority should review and fine tune the existing handling procedures of lost and found items.
