XN000022-1974-03-26 — Page 2

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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

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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,