CY Daughter's Airport Bag Row Reaches Court

The High Court has begun hearing a case over an airport bag controversy in March 2016 involving a daughter of former Chief Executive CY Leung.

The saga began when Leung Chung-yan forgot her carry-on luggage as she passed through security at the airport, where she was taking a flight to San Francisco.

Airport staff then took the bag through security for her and delivered it to the gate. The former CE spoke to airline staff by telephone during the incident and he later denied claims that he had pressured staff into taking the bag through security.

The Airport Authority insisted that although Leung Chung-yan did not personally accompany her luggage as it went through the security check, this did not breach any rules.

The High Court is now hearing a judicial review into that decision, filed by a flight attendant who says it is crucial for people to know whether or not they must be present when their baggage is screened.

On Wednesday, a lawyer for the Airport Authority argued that details of the security arrangements at Chek Lap Kok should not be divulged during the case.

But the judge, Anderson Chow, agreed with the counsel for the plaintiff that such information is not confidential and can be presented to the court.

The flight attendant's barrister, Gladys Li, then quoted the Hong Kong Airport Security Programme as stating that "all screening of cabin baggage shall be conducted in the presence of the passenger", and that "an airport manager must ensure that the passenger and his cabin baggage are screened ... within an enhanced security area".

Li told the court there is no ambiguity at all in the wording.

The hearing continues.