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Eddie Lee

The Airport Authority has tried to ease the controversy over Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s daughter being delivered her left luggage in a restricted area by claiming that hundreds of such “courtesy deliveries” have been made over the past year at Hong Kong International Airport.
The government yesterday published a report prepared by the authority categorically denying safety protocols might have been broken, or any special privileges granted, when Leung Chung-yan’s baggage was delivered to her from a non-restricted area to a closed-off zone after her father spoke to airport staff last month.
Hong Kong chief executive denies pressuring airport staff to break security rules over his daughter’s left-behind luggage
According to the sequence of events revealed by the authority, Leung’s wife, Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee, was at the airport at the time and “appeared upset”.

She was said to have asked why no one could help her deliver the bag to her daughter and talked of taking it to the boarding gate herself. The report did not say if she had breached air safety regulations.
From March 2015 to March this year, 517 such “courtesy deliveries” were recorded, according to the authority. Items including travel documents, bags, wallets, clothing and electronic devices were taken into the restricted area and returned to their owners after the required security screening.
The authority did not specify whether all of these items had been delivered under exactly the same circumstances as Chung-yan’s baggage.
Left luggage saga: Hong Kong aviation insiders say airlines have power to help passengers like they did with chief executive’s daughter
“Whether airlines choose to provide courtesy delivery of found property to their passengers in the restricted area depends on their own discretion,” the authority said. “Provided that airlines comply with airport security screening requirements, airlines do not require approval from the Aviation Security Company or the authority to provide such service.”
The chief executive released a statement last night noting that the report had cleared him and his family of wrongdoing.


A source close to the case denied there had been any breach of air safety regulations.
Asked when the authority or the airlines coined the term “courtesy deliveries” and whether there were any guidelines on such services for staff, the source said the authority was not in a position to comment on it.
Dora Lai Yuk-sim, executive member of Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation, said she was disappointed about the report because it had failed to clear up the public’s doubts over security loopholes at the airport.
The veteran flight attendant from Cathay Pacific said she had never heard of a “courtesy delivery” in all these years.
Lai urged the authority and Leung to provide details of the 517 cases cited yesterday.
She said there were “courtesy services” for specific kinds of customers but they would not extend to VIP treatment involving luggage bypassing security checks.
The union said it would discuss possible industrial action over the latest development.
Additional reporting by Danny Mok


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<p>Airport Authority points out there have been 517 similar ‘courtesy deliveries’ over the last year</p>

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Cabin Crew Federation organises a protest against Civil Aviation Department's handling of baggage gate at arrival Hall, Hong Kong international Airport in Chek Lap Kok. 17APR16 SCMP/Edward Wong

An elderly man (Centre) is led away after arguing with protesters during Cabin Crew Federation organises a protest against Civil Aviation Department's handling of baggage gate at arrival Hall, Hong Kong international Airport in Chek Lap Kok. 17APR16 SCMP/Edward Wong

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The Chief Executive’s Office clarified that CY Leung was never in touch with Airport Authority officials, though he did speak to airline staff over his daughter’s phone. Photo: Sam Tsang

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A file picture of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying with his wife and younger daughter Leung Chung-yan (right). Photo: David Wong

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Airport Authority points out there have been 517 similar ‘courtesy deliveries’ over the last year
