Jeremy Tam talks to RTHK's Janice Wong
A Civic Party member has questioned an Airport Authority report concluding that no safety rules were broken when airline staff delivered a forgotten bag to the Chief Executive’s daughter at a restricted area at the airport last month.
Jeremy Tam, who’s also a pilot, said a set of security guidelines that was partially released together with the report expressly forbids any luggage to be brought through security checks unless it is accompanied by the passenger.
The report said airline staff ultimately brought the bag to Leung Chung-yan in the restricted area on her behalf, after being subjected to security checks.
However, Tam said the restricted internal document requires that all screening of cabin baggage must be conducted in the presence of the passenger.
“Based on the wording, they’re not following the instructions written by the government,” Tam said. “To me it’s very clear, they actually break the law.”
Tam told RTHK’s Janice Wong that the Civic Party will seek further clarification from the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Union, Dora Lai, took issue with the report’s finding that over 500 of these “courtesy deliveries” to passengers were made last year.
”We actually have no idea what this courtesy delivery is because we haven’t heard of it before,” she said.
Lai added that the handling of whether left luggage should be delivered to passengers who’ve already entered restricted zones should not be left to the discretion of airlines, because it concerns safety and security.
She said her union is still seeking a meeting with the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Norman Lo, to clarify such matters.
______________________________
Last updated: 2016-04-26 HKT 15:34
Jeremy Tam, who’s also a pilot, said a set of security guidelines that was partially released together with the report expressly forbids any luggage to be brought through security checks unless it is accompanied by the passenger.
The report said airline staff ultimately brought the bag to Leung Chung-yan in the restricted area on her behalf, after being subjected to security checks.
However, Tam said the restricted internal document requires that all screening of cabin baggage must be conducted in the presence of the passenger.
“Based on the wording, they’re not following the instructions written by the government,” Tam said. “To me it’s very clear, they actually break the law.”
Tam told RTHK’s Janice Wong that the Civic Party will seek further clarification from the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Union, Dora Lai, took issue with the report’s finding that over 500 of these “courtesy deliveries” to passengers were made last year.
”We actually have no idea what this courtesy delivery is because we haven’t heard of it before,” she said.
Lai added that the handling of whether left luggage should be delivered to passengers who’ve already entered restricted zones should not be left to the discretion of airlines, because it concerns safety and security.
She said her union is still seeking a meeting with the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Norman Lo, to clarify such matters.
______________________________
Last updated: 2016-04-26 HKT 15:34
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1256650-20160426.htm
