HKSAR government to notify public major air safety occurrences

Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department will immediately notify the public of any air safety occurrences which may cause concern, according to a government press release Thursday.

Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation YK Leung said that the reportable occurrences include incidents which involve damage to aircraft, injuries, failure of multiple aircraft systems or equipment, false fire warnings and abnormal functioning of communications.

He said Hong Kong has a robust aviation regulatory regime meeting international standards, and that the department prioritizes safety.

He added that Hong Kong maintains a reporting system meeting international practice promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Hong Kong Air Operator's Certificate holders are required to report incidents which fall into the "Mandatory Occurrence Reporting" category within 96 hours.

Leung said that certificate holders must also investigate such incidents and the department monitors the inquiries and actions to correct faults and prevent recurrence, he said.

The measure was announced following Cathay Pacific Airways pledged Wednesday to further ensure maximum passenger safety.

Cathay Pacific explained to the public the causes of four incidents in the past four months which had not involved in any injuries.

Source: Xinhua