FAA praises "excellent" security at Hong Kong International Airport

(HONG KONG, 27 December 1998) -- The United States Government's aviation safety regulatory body has praised aviation security at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

After a recent inspection of US airlines operating at HKIA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commented that the overall security of Hong Kong International Airport was "excellent".

Security at HKIA is handled by more than 2,000 staff of the Aviation Security Company (AVSECO), a subsidiary of the Airport Authority. In addition more than 400 members of the Hong Kong Police are stationed at the Airport Police Station.

The FAA said security procedures and practices far exceeded guidelines established by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in particular Annex 14 (Operations), Annex 17 (Security), and Annex 18 (Carriage of Dangerous Goods).

The access control of the passenger terminal and airfield perimeter is among the best of the world, FAA officials said. They were also impressed by passenger screening arrangements, especially the large number of screening stations and the high proficiency of security operators. Documentation for all Airport Security Programmes were well written, comprehensive and had been effectively disseminated to airlines.

HKIA employs some of the world's most comprehensive baggage screening. Every single item of baggage destined for the hold of an aircraft undergoes an automated security screening called Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) which analyses all bags as they pass through automated "smart" X-ray machines, known as the Machine Automated Explosive Detection System (MAEDS). Keeping up with the standard is no mean feat considering that HKIA handles up to 460 flights and 94,000 passengers a day.

"We are very pleased with the FAA's findings," AVSECO General Manager Mr Sidney Chau said. "They back our claim that HKIA is one of the world's safest and most secure airports."

Ref. PR-408