:
Tuesday, March 26, 1974
TIGETER SECURITY AT KAI TAK
Airlines To Engage Security Firm
A new system at Kai Tak, due to come into operation on April 1,
will greatly increase the security of the airport.
Stating this today, the Airport General Manager, Mr. H.M.
Johnston, said that the system would involve a check of all departing
passengers together with those in transit as well as airline crews
and all other personnel entering the departure and transit facilities.
"The intention is to create a secure area which should guard
against the possibility of weapons being smuggled aboard flights," he said,
"The system which has been evolved is very thorough, and the
checks are being carried out at a point where they will be a preliminary
to all other processing activities. This procedure will entail the
minimum of delay because it will enable passengers to be cleared before
they enter the departure lounge and therefore well before embarkation."
He added that the operation of this system for the protection
of passenger safety had been arranged by 'the airlines, as was common
practice where routine checks and inspections were carried out elsewhere.
The airlines would employ the services of a security firm the
-
Hong Kong-based company of Securair Limited to carry out the checks,
the oost to each airline being determined by the number of its passengers
checked.
The government could then reimburse the airlines so that,
although they would be responsible for the operation, it would not, in
effect, be a charge on their operating expenses.
/In addition,