The Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong announced Tuesday to adopt new security measures from March 21 at the airport for screening liquids, gels and aerosols in cabin baggage for all departing flights following an international aviation agency's new security guidelines.

The guidelines were formulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization after the British Government foiled a terrorist plot to smuggle liquid explosives onto aircraft in London's Heathrow Airport last August.

The Civil Aviation Department's Chief Operations Officer Simon Li said all passengers at the Hong Kong International Airport will be subject to the new cabin baggage restrictions.

Under the new security measures, all liquids, gels and aerosols in cabin baggage must be carried in containers with a capacity not greater than 100 ml. Liquids, gels, aerosols carried in containers larger than 100 ml will not be accepted, even if the container is only part-filled.

Containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding one liter. The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which should be completely closed.

The plastic bag must be presented separately from other cabin baggage for visual examination at the screening point. Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger is permitted. Exemptions will be made for medications, baby milk or food and special dietary requirements -- subject to verification.

The Airport Authority will work closely with its service provider to ensure sufficient manpower and related facilities are in place to tie in with the launch of the new security measures, the department said.

Source: Xinhua