"Hong Kong airport guards may get guns"

Wednesday, August 2, 2000

Airport guards may get guns
STELLA LEE and JO BOWMAN
China-South China Morning Post


Armed security officers may be stationed at entrances to restricted areas of
Chek Lap Kok airport in the light of Monday's hostage drama.

Government and airport officials who met yesterday to review the incident
admitted there was nothing guards could have done to stop the hostage-taker
because they were not armed.

In Monday's incident, a woman cleaner was taken hostage just after 10pm and
held aboard an empty Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 for 2½ hours. A man
brandishing an unloaded air pistol forced his way past five security guards
on the south side of the passenger terminal to enter a restricted area and
board the plane. Engineer Wong Kam-fai, 27 - the only other person on board
the jet - locked himself in the cockpit until the hostage was freed at about
12.45am.

Deputy Secretary for Security Chang King-yiu said she did not think the
incident, which delayed 18 flights, would tarnish the airport's reputation.
She was happy the drama had been resolved swiftly, but said officials would
review procedures.

"We will liaise with the police and airport security company on whether
there is a need to strengthen the security at the special checkpoints, like
stationing armed officers," Ms Chang said. She rejected comparisons with a
case last month when a traveller walked past security officials unchecked
before being arrested while trying to force his way on to a flight.

Airport Authority chief executive Billy Lam Chung-lun said the security and
airport officers had followed guidelines properly, though they were unable
to stop armed intruders. "Our security officers are not armed. Officers . .
. co-ordinated with police in accordance with the procedures laid down.
There were no mistakes whatsoever. However, having seen another incident, we
might have something to learn," Mr Lam said.

Alan Lau Yip-shing, assistant general manager of Aviation Security, the firm
responsible for security at the entrances to restricted areas, said security
officers were trained to stay calm during such incidents.

Ms Chang said while checks on people entering the restricted area were the
responsibility of the security firm, police were in charge when a specific
incident like Monday's occurred.

Police said officers cordoned off part of the airport area within five
minutes of being alerted. A police negotiator held talks with the man by
mobile phone. The suspect made four requests during the negotiations - for
officers surrounding the plane to back off, to be given passage to Burma, to
swap his hostage for someone else and for a face-to-face meeting with
police.

The aircraft the man boarded was scheduled to take 372 passengers to Paris
and Manchester at 11.35pm on Monday. Cathay Pacific said that the flight
took off at 6.30pm last night with 287 passengers aboard. They had spent
Monday night at the Regal Airport Hotel.

Police last night charged a 29-year-old man in connection with the hostage
drama. The man, believed to be a Burmese citizen, faces one count of false
imprisonment and will appear in Tsuen Wan Court today.

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