Pro-Beijing Hong Kong legislator Ma Fung-kwok accused of abusing position in row with airport security over hair gel in carry-on bag
Lawmaker denies deliberately bringing up his acquaintance with Airport Authority chief to put pressure of staff
A pro-Beijing Hong Kong politician has been accused of abusing his status as a legislator to bypass airport rules on liquids in carry-on baggage when he insisted on taking a tube of hair gel on his flight with him.
But Ma Fung-kwok on Thursday brushed aside the allegations that he deliberately brought up his acquaintance with Fred Lam Tin-fuk, chief executive of the Airport Authority, during exchanges with ground staff. He admitted that he mentioned his job as a lawmaker.
The Aviation Security Company Limited (AVSECO), which is responsible for security at Hong Kong International Airport, said its inquiries revealed the guards involved did not follow procedures and had allowed Ma to take the gel on board. It had started a disciplinary review into the case.
The furore, dubbed “hair gel-gate” online, began, according to a report in Chinese-language newspaper Apple Daily, when Ma was leaving Hong Kong for Beijing on Monday and security officers stopped him in the departure hall.
A security check had found that he had a 200ml tube of hair gel in his carry-on backpack. Passengers are not allowed to carry liquids, gels or aerosols in containers larger than 100ml in cabin baggage, even if the container is only part-full.
Staff told Ma to either dump the gel or put it in his checked baggage. According to the report published on Thursday, Ma mentioned to the staff that he was a lawmaker and that he knew Lam. He also asked to talk to a more senior officer, “who could make decisions”.
