HK International Airport Beefs Up Security MeasuresThe Hong Kong International Airport stepped up security measures on Thursday by announcing the ban of any knife, knife-like object or bladed item into the aircraft cabin and the Enhanced Security Restricted Area (ESRA) of the airport from Friday.The sale of these items at all airport shops and the use of table knives with blade in catering outlets within the ESRA will also be banned, the airport said. Plastic knives, however, are permitted for meal services. Hong Kong's director-general of Civil Aviation, on the advice of the Aviation Security Committee (ASC), has issued two Security Directions to this effect under the Aviation Security Ordinance. The ASC is chaired by the Security Bureau and comprises representatives from the Civil Aviation Department, Police, Airport Authority (AA) and airlines. A government spokesman said that the directions, issued to the AA and airline operators registered in Hong Kong or operating passenger flights from the HKIA, require the removal of these items once detected at the airport security checkpoints. "The new requirement covers all passenger flights operating from Hong Kong regardless of destination and is made in response to the new threat situation concerning international civil aviation. This can help promote the safety of international civil aviation operating from the HKIA," he said. |
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