Protestors gathered in the airport arrivals hall on Sunday to vent their anger at the handling of a piece of luggage for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s daughter
NIKKI SUN AND KC NG
UPDATED : Sunday, 17 April, 2016, 7:27pm
Hundreds rally at the airport to protest against Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, who allegedly put pressure on airport staff to help his daughter retrieve a bag left outside of restricted areas. Photo: Edward Wong
As many as 2,500 cabin crew members and their supporters held a sit-in at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday in protest over the handling of a piece of left luggage for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s daughter last month.
Shouts of slogans echoed in the arrivals hall as leaders of the protest group took turns to go on stage and vent anger at the Civil Aviation Department’s handling of the issue, which the protesters claimed could have compromised flight safety.
Minor scuffles broke out as another group of anti-sit-in protesters arrived to confront the protesting cabin crew members and their supporters, accusing them of politicising the issue.
Security guards and police quickly came to separate the two groups.
By 5.30pm on Sunday, the rally had calmed down. While union members said 2,500 people took part in the protest, police figures put the number at 1,000.
Sunday’s sit-in was organised by the Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation, which is a member group under the Confederation of Trade Unions that has close ties with the opposition camp.
Labour Party legislator Lee Cheuk-yan is secretary general of the confederation.
It’s very dangerous practise. Our job is to secure the safety of the flight and passengers.
CAROL NG MAN-YEE
The Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation accused the department of being “irresponsible” by trying to play down the issue. The protesters were unhappy that airport and security staff had exercised discretion to deliver luggage for Leung’s daughter, Chung-yan, from a non-restricted zone to the restricted area last month.
They claimed the chief executive had exerted pressure on the staff to help his daughter - a claim he has denied.
Federation general secretary Carol Ng Man-yee said: “It’s very dangerous practise. Our job is to secure the safety of the flight and passengers.”
She said the luggage could be switched during the process, especially when handled by third party.
She said it had requested the Civil Aviation Department to give it a reason for the unusual practise of Leung’s daughter, but so far the answers they got were “nonsense”.
Louis Wan, 21, a protestor working in the catering industry, said: “[The luggage] could be stuffed with bombs or drugs,” said Wan. “I still don’t understand how they made something impossible, possible,” he said.
In a statement, a government spokesman said: “The government understands the public’s concern about aviation security and we would like to reassure the public that the government has all along attached great importance to security at the airport. Aviation security measures of the Hong Kong International Airport meet the relevant requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“According to the relevant requirements of ICAO, all persons, including passengers, staff and crew, as well as their baggage, both hold and cabin baggage, are required to undergo security checks before they board or are carried on board aircraft so as to safeguard aviation security.
“According to information made available to the Civil Aviation Department, the identity of the cabin baggage owner in the case on March 27 to 28 had been confirmed and the baggage went through security checking prior to entering the departure restricted area. The safety of the airport and the aircraft was not affected in the incident.
“The Airport Authority Hong Kong will submit a report on the case to the Government. Upon reviewing the report, appropriate follow-up action will be taken as necessary.
“The Government will continue to strive to ensure aviation safety and continue to work with the operators in the airport to uphold safety as well as reliable and efficient operation at the airport.”
An elderly man (C) is led away after arguing with protesters during today’s protest. Photo: Edward Wong
Also at the sit-in were Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan, Civic Party legislators Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu and Alan Leong Kah-kit, Long Hair Leung Kwok-hung of League of Social Democrats, and Democrat James To Kun-sun.
“If you are a senior person of the authority, you’ve got to be better than good,” said Pokfulam District Councillor Paul Zimmerman, who attended the rally.
“If you are a good dad, your daughters called you and said I can’t find my bag ... You tell her go and get it. You don’t put pressure on staff at the airport,” he added.
Winnie Chan, 40, a clerk who came to the airport for the rally said: “We are not picky on the chef executive. We are only here to express our concern of flight safety ... The whole thing is so weird.”
The Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines expressed regret that the protesters had tried to make political gains by causing troubles to airport staff and travellers.
The arrivals hall hit maximum occupancy as the protest occupied the floor. Photo: Edward Wong
A union spokesman Ip Wai-ming said: “If they are unhappy about the department’s handling of the case, they can go to petition the department head. I see no reason why they should occupy the airport arrival hall. They not only cause inconvenience to the arriving travellers, but also obstruct the work of the ground staff.” His union is a member under the pro-government Federation of Trade Union. On Saturday, it announced it would not join the sit-in.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1936701/protest-hong-kong-international-airport-over-left-luggage-saga
