XN000022-1972-07-22 — Page 3

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Saturday, July 22, 1972

MECHANISED BAGGAGE EXAMINATION COUNTERS AT AIRPORT

Mechanised examination counters have been installed in the baggage

reclaim hall at Hong Kong Airport to improve security and to facilitate the

handling of passengers' luggage.

Eighteen counters, costing about $300,000, have already been

installed as part of Stage III of the airport expansion programme, and

22 other counters will be set up when the next stage is completed, a Preventive

Service spokesman said today.

The number and position of counters open at any one time can

be controlled by the officer-in-charge and depend on the number and

direction of passengers to be cleared at the time, he said.

The counters consist of a conveyor belt with static rollers

at each end. The belts are set in motion by the Revenue Inspector

manning it.

The spokesman said passengers had only to put their baggage onto

the conveyor rollers on one end, see it through the inspection, and fasten

the baggage at the other end before leaving the hall.

Two passengers, one at each end of the belt, can thus be handled

at the same time by one inspector. The time taken to clear the baggage

of a passenger averages about 80 seconds.

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