The Chief Executive today issued the following statement in response to the Airport Authority's report submitted to the Government on the handling of unattended baggage at the airport on March 27 and 28.
It states:
"On airport security, the report pointed out that, after its discovery in the departure hall, the cabin baggage concerned passed explosive trace detection; the ownership of the baggage was verified; before entering the departure restricted area, the baggage underwent security screening, which met the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation before its return to the owner; and, according to the requirements of relevant authorities of the destination country of the flight, the cabin baggage was also security screened at the boarding gate before the owner boarded the aircraft.
"I also noted the report (para. 3.6) pointed out the Airport Authority has established procedures to handle lost property. There are precedents of providing courtesy delivery of found property, after undergoing necessary security screening, from the landside to its established owner in the Airport Restricted Area. The report pointed out that 517 courtesy deliveries of items were recorded from March 2015 to March 2016."
Mr Leung reiterated that neither he nor his family exercised any privilege or breached airport security requirements during the incident.
