By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, July 18 (PNA) — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Saturday reiterated anew the Philippine Consulate General’s warning to all Filipino travelers to refrain from bringing devices that can be viewed as threatening when entering Hong Kong.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, MIAA said that Filipino visitors, workers, and residents should not be bringing restricted items, particularly stunning devices in their hand carried or checked in luggage.
“Stun guns and other devices such as tear gas, bullets, extendible batons, flick knives, and knuckle dusters are considered as “arms” and therefore are restricted under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance of Hong Kong,” the statement read.
“The unlicensed possession of these restricted items is upon conviction, punishable by a fine of HK $ 100, 000 and a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment,” it further said.
This warning was first issued last January.
The Philippine Consulate General meanwhile stressed that Hong Kong authorities are strict with the enforcement of the ordinance.
It also reminded Filipino travelers that all hand-carried and checked in luggage of passengers are subjected to security screening in the airport terminals.
Last year, 81 Filipino nationals, mostly seafarers were convicted for possession of arms without license.
MIAA made this announcement after the Department of Transportation and Communication-Office for Transportation Security (DOTC-OTS) this week released a new list of prohibited items in correspondence to international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
This move, according to DOTC-OTS, intends to develop the pre-existing list of items prohibited on Philippine airports to counter emerging threats to civil aviation and establish a standardized security screening operations at all airports in the country.
The official prohibited items list is posted on the OTS website, www.ots.gov.ph and will be followed by an informational campaign to facilitate proper implementation. (PNA)