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Responding to press enquiries, a Government spokesman confirmed that a Korean man holding a US passport was charged with unauthorized access into the Airport Restricted Area of the Hong Kong International Airport. The case was heard at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy today (July 17).

Recounting the incident, the spokesman said that in the evening on July 15, a report was made to the Police and Immigration Department that a man had evaded immigration examination and entered into the Departure Level of the Airport Restricted Area. The departments made an immediate attempt to locate the said subject. Airport security guards on patrol in the Passenger Terminal Building were also put on alert to search for this man.

The Police received another report at around 10 pm from airline staff that a man had forced his way through a boarding gate and trespassed into an aircraft without a valid boarding pass. Police officers attended the scene immediately and arrested the man.

The spokesman said that follow-up investigation revealed that the subject was a Korean male holding a US passport. He was found to have gained entry into the immigration hall by presenting to the airport security guards an invalid boarding pass. An air passenger is required by law to present a valid boarding pass and travel document for access to the Airport Restricted Area.

"There is no question of weapons or other restricted items having been introduced into the Airport Security Area or aviation security at the airport jeopardized. All persons are required to go through comprehensive security control requirements including X-ray and metal-detector screening before they can enter the enhanced security restricted area of the Passenger Terminal Building. The trespasser also passed the standard security screening," he explained.

However, to maintain the high standard of airport security and prevent possible recurrence of similar incidents, the Government spokesman said that relevant departments and airport agencies would review as soon as possible existing security arrangements, with a view to determining if any improvement measures could be made to further enhance access controls at the Hong Kong International Airport.

End/Monday, July 17, 2000

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