XN000022-1974-03-26 — Page 3

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Tuesday, March 26, 1974

In addition, the government would install and maintain the

equipment to be used by Securair Limited, as part of the terminal facilities.

"Clearly the financial burden of these new arrangements should

not fall on the Hong Kong taxpayer at large when only a small proportion

of the populace travel by air," Mr. Johnston pointed out,

"Coincident with the introduction of the new arrangements,

the government has decided to increase the passenger service charge

from $10 to $15 from April 1. This increase will cover the cost of

the new security measures and will also contribute to the rising costs

of running the airport."

Describing how the screening procedure would operate, he said

that the security checkpoint would be established immediately adjacent

to the main public hall in the terminal building.

Departing passengers would pass through this checkpoint before

proceeding on to the immigration counters and thence to the departure

lounge.

In the checkpoint area, hand luggage would be thoroughly searched

and passengers would be channelled through special metal detectors equipped

to sense the presence of concealed objects.

If the metal detectors alerted the security guards, the person

concerned would be asked to submit to a personal search.

Should the hand luggage be sealed, in the form of a parcel or

gift package, it would be scrutinised by sophisticated X-ray equipment

capable of revealing the nature of the contents.

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The procedure.......