XN000022-1993-11-10 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1993

HK DRAWS UP COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR AVIATION SECURITY

A HONG KONG AVIATION SECURITY BILL IS NOW AT THE DRAFTING STAGE TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK WHICH WILL HAVE EFFECT BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER JUNE 30, 1997.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN ADDRESSING THE AVIATION SECURITY IN PRACTICE SYMPOSIUM ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION.

COUNCIL

MR

"WE PLAN TO INTRODUCE THIS BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE NEXT SUMMER AND HOPE IT WILL BE ENACTED BY THE END OF 1994, ASPREY SAID.

I

ENSURB

НЕ SAID THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO THE TERRITORY WAS ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARDED IN THE YEARS AHEAD AGAINST CRIMINAL AND TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AIRCRAFT, PASSENGERS AND AIRPORTS.

THE BILL WILL INCLUDE THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOKYO, HAQUE MONTREAL CONVENTIONS AND ASSOCIATED EXTRADITION ARRANGEMENTS.

AND

IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO PERMIT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL IN HONG KONG, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS TO BE MOST IMPORTANT, AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANNEX 17 OF THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

AT PRESENT, THE TOKYO, HAGUE AND MONTREAL CONVENTIONS, THOUGH THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL, HAVE ALL BEEN GIVEN EFFECT IN HONG KONG THROUGH UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION.

NOT

"ALL THIS UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION WILL CEASE TO APPLY IN HONG KONG AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, AND WE NEED TO LOCALISE IT IF WE WISH ITS PROVISIONS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY BEYOND THEN, HE SAID.

MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSULT WIDELY, INCLUDING THE INDUSTRY, DURING THE LATER STAGES OF THE DRAFTING OF THE AVIATION SECURITY BILL.

MR ASPREY UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATION TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, IN PARTICULAR THE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES PRESCRIBED IN ANNEX 17 TO THE CHICAGO CONVENTION,

THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS, SAID ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN STANDARD 3.1.3 OF ANNEX 17.

AS

MR ASPREY, WAS THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE

DESIGNATED

MR ASPREY, AS THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, HAS BEEN THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS THE AVIATION SECURITY AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG.

ΤΟ ADVISE HIM, AN AVIATION SECURITY COMMITTEE HAS BERN ESTABLISHED, WITH MEMBERSHIP FROM MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE AND THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

/"THE MAIN