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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1987
DANGEROUS GOODS MUST BE DECLARED BEFORE AIR TRANSPORTATION
CIVIL AVIATION
TRANSPORTATION OF UNDECLARED DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR IS ILLEGAL AND OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT WARNED TODAY (SATURDAY).
UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS (CONSIGNMENT BY AIR) (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1985, ALL DANGEROUS GOODS MUST BE PROPERLY CLASSIFIRD, PACKED, MARKED, LABELLED AND DOCUMENTED BEFORE THEY ARE OFFERED FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION.
ANY PERSON FOUND BREACHING THESE REGULATIONS IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $250,000 AND/OR IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
IN APRIL THIS YEAR, A LOCAL COMPANY WAS STOPPED BY THE HONG KONG AIR CARGO TERMINAL LIMITED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AIRLIFT 1.800 KG OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID UNDER THE QUISE OF UNRESTRICTED ITEMS. THE COMPANY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED AND FINED $50,000 FOR THE OFFENCE.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO THE LARGE FLUCTUATIONS IN TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE AND THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIBRATION EXPERIENCED IN AIR TRAVEL, A LOT OF "SAFE GOODS" ON THE GROUND COULD BECOME EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN THE AIR.
WHILE SOME DANGEROUS GOODS ARE COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN FOR AIR CARRIAGE, OTHERS ARE PERMITTED FOR CONVEYANCE BY AUTHORISED AIRLINES PROVIDED ALL NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.
ACCORDING TO CLASSIFICATIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION, DANGEROUS GOODS IN GENERAL REFER TO SUCH ITEMS AS EXPLOSIVES, CORROSIVES, GASES, FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS, OXIDISING, TOXIC AND INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES, RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS, AND A VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE FLIGHT NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMS OR CAUSE DISCOMFORT TO AIR PASSENGERS.
SHIPPERS SHOULD APPROACH LOCAL AIR CARGO AGENTS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE RESTRICTIONS ON DANGEROUS GOODS. THEY CAN ALSO WRITE TO THE DANGEROUS GOODS OFFICE OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AT ROOM 259, APRON SERVICES COMPLEX, HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, OR CONTACT THE SEFETY OFFICER AT 3-7698460.
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