Aviation Security Bill
Comments by the HKCSI
April 1996

1. The Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries supports the passage of the Aviation Security Bill 1996 to establish an aviation security regime in line with international requirements. We recognise that for Hong Kong to become a world class aviation hub, security arrangements at Chek Lap Kok must conform to the highest standards.
2. Whilst the need for an aviation security regime is not questioned, it should be recognised that there would be cost implications which could become a concern especially to small and medium enterprises. We would emphasis therefore that the aviation security regime should be developed in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible, keeping any additional bureaucracy to the minimum.
3. We suggest that the composition of the statutory Aviation Security Committee should be spelled out clearly and should consist of representatives of the following:

   Sector	Representative
   A Hong Kong airline	Cathay Pacific
   Airlines	Board of Airline Representatives
   Freight forwarders	HAFFA
   Travel industry	Travel Industry Council
   Airport Authority	A director of AA
   Airport retail	A representative of airport retail operators
   Tenant restricted area operators	A number of representatives from the air cargo, express cargo, fuel supply and catering operators.

4. Since the Aviation Security Bill is to apply to Chek Lap Kok which will open after Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region of China, the Bill should be considered in the context of the provisions in the Basic Law about civil aviation (Chapter V Section 4 Articles 128-135). Since in the Basic Law it is stipulated that civil aviation policy should be subject to central government approval, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress should be consulted on the Bill in addition to the established channel of the Joint Liaison Group. This is a matter which Security Branch should take up with Constitutional Affairs Branch.

(ends)

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