TNAG-2533-FCO40-3703-Application-of-Aviation-and-Maritime-Security-Act-1990-to-Ho-1992 — Page 19

TRANSPORT SECURITY DIVISION

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THE DEPARTMENT

OF TRANSPORT

ROOM S8/08

2 MARSHAM STREFFI

IN SWU,

51

TELEN 22221 DIRECTLINE DE 26

SWITCHBOARD (1-276 3000

GIN 276

J R Ashdown M.II.SEC

Government Security Officer Security Branch

Central Government Offices HONG KONG

My Ret:

Your Ret:

AVI/10/1/07

20 March 1992

Jailer

AVIATION SECURITY: HONG KONG

Thank you very much for arranging the programme for my recent visit to Hong Kong, and for facilitating the many and varied discussions with people who influence aviation security in the territory.

2. I have prepared a report of the administration and implementatior of security at Kai Tak Airport, and I attach a copy. Much of the content is for the record, and will be familiar to you, but it alsc includes assessments which may be helpful. Please distribute it as you wish - I envisage the Airport General Manager would like to know the result of my visit. I will provide a copy to British Airways.

3.

My particular interest was, however, the generation of a National Aviation Security Programme in respect of Hong Kong, and to seek clarification of the position of Cathay Pacific Airways and other Hong Kong based airlines.

4.

I

I welcomed the positive response of Jim Morris, John Shannon and you, and indeed Dick Siegel, to the merits of a National AVSEC programme. We agreed it should incorporate the standards anc recommended practices in ANNEX 17 to the Chicago Convention, that is define and

and allocate tasks [responsibilities] define standards and provide for the inspection of their implementation, and ensure the effectiveness of a national aviation security training programme. envisage that it will serve to reassure the UK Government that Hong Kong is fulfilling the requirements for which the UK accounts internationally, and should provide a basis to reassure other states about the security of their aircraft operating in the territory. You will recall my underlying hope that exchanging such programmes with other states will provide us assurances about the security of UK and Hong Kong airlines operating at foreign airports.

5. The timescale we have set to develop programmes, which I wish you to accept, is to clarify requirements by the end of June 1992; draft programmes by the end of September 1992; consider and approve [agree? programmes by the end of December. Leaving the last three months of the financial year to deal with any unique problems. I recognise that a programme may be either a series of requirements which are not supported by legislation, or requirements fully supported by legislation. While it is clearly better to base intentions in law I suggest we should not wait for legislation. We may substantially fulfil our obligations in an anticipation of legislation, and should not delay.

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