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LCQ13: Combating thefts on board aircraft
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     Following is a question by the Hon Wong Ting-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (November 18):

Question:

     It has been reported that the Police received 45 reports of thefts on board aircraft in the first seven months of this year, representing a 50 per cent increase over the same period of last year. The total amount of money involved was as large as $3 million, exceeding that for the whole of last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) in each of the past three years, of (i) the number of reports of thefts on board aircraft and the total amount of money involved, (ii) the number of persons arrested on suspicion of stealing on board aircraft, with a breakdown by their country/place of origin, and (iii) the penalties generally imposed on the persons convicted of theft on board aircraft;

(2) whether it has studied the reasons for the significant increase in the number of thefts on board aircraft in recent years, and the related modus operandi of the offenders; if it has, of the details; and

(3) whether it has assessed if the number of thefts on board aircraft will continue to rise along with the development of the aviation industry; if it has assessed and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the authorities' counter measures in place; whether it will review (i) the effectiveness of the current publicity and educational efforts on prevention of such crimes, and (ii) whether the current manpower resources are sufficient for combating such crimes; whether it will consider amending the legislation to increase the relevant penalties?

Reply:

President,

     Our reply to the three parts of the Hon Wong's question is as follows:

(1) Figures on thefts on board aircraft from 2012 to September 2015 are at Annex. From January to September 2015, persons who were convicted by court for thefts on board aircraft have been sentenced to a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment ranging from 30 days to 13 months.

(2) The Police are concerned about the rising trend of thefts on board aircraft in recent years. Thefts on board aircraft mainly occurred when offenders stole the property of passengers inside the luggage cabin while posing as placing luggage into the cabin before take-off. Offenders also committed theft when passengers left their seats or were taking rest at their seats during the flight journey. The Police have noticed that thefts on board medium- and long-haul flights over five hours have increased. The Police believe that this is due to the fact that cabin lights would usually be dimmed on these flights so that passengers could take rest, and offenders made use of such opportunity to commit theft.

(3) The Police will continue to exchange intelligence with airlines, the Airport Authority, the Aviation Security Company Limited, as well as Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies etc., and strengthen intelligence-led enforcement operations in order to interdict thefts on board aircraft. At the same time, the Police will continue to closely liaise with the aviation industry and enhance the vigilance and alert of industry practitioners including flight attendants against such crimes through crime prevention seminars and other means. The Police will also continue to disseminate information about the modus operandi of thefts on board aircraft etc. through the mass media and "Police Magazine" etc. so as to strengthen the crime prevention awareness of the public.

     The Police appeal to travellers to carefully look after their property, particularly their cabin luggage. Travellers must properly safe keep their valuable property and must not place any cash or valuable property inside the luggage cabin of aircraft so as not to give any opportunity to thieves.

     For persons suspected of committing theft on board aircraft, the Police will typically institute prosecution by invoking the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) or the Aviation Security Ordinance (Cap. 494). The Government will continue to closely monitor the latest developments regarding the subject.

Ends/Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:19

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