Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) will progressively introduce a smart security screening system at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) starting next month, allowing passengers to keep their electronic devices, including laptop computers and mobile phones, as well as liquids, aerosols and gels in their carry-on luggage, without having to take them out for screening as required by existing protocol.
The streamlined procedure is enabled by the latest 3D and 360-degree CT-based X-ray scanning technology, as opposed to the existing system’s 2D capability. The new system also comes with auto tray recirculation, in-built tray sterilisation, and automatic alert to passengers for uncollected items on the tray.
For passengers who fail to clear the archway metal detector, further screening will be conducted in a new full-body scanner that replaces manual searches with a hand-held detector. Advanced imaging technology can accurately locate concealed items while reducing physical contact between passengers and security staff.
Apart from enhancing passenger experience, the new smart security screening system will improve operational efficiency, raising the average throughput by about 20 per cent.
HKIA will be world’s first to operate smart security screening channels in the entire airport. The overhaul will see the installation of 50 channels and 32 full-body scanners, starting from Terminal 1. The first batch will come into operation on July 2 at South and North Departures Immigration Halls.
Steven Yiu, executive director, airport operations of AAHK, said: “At HKIA, we attach great importance to aviation safety as well as passenger experience. We will adopt the new smart security screening channel in the entire airport. The upgrades of the security screening system at HKIA not only further enhance the overall screening performance, but also make mandatory airport procedures more pleasant to passengers, with the existing aviation security standards and requirements remaining intact.”
Travellers from Australia and New Zealand will now be able to enter China for business, tourism, and transit without a visa for up to 15 days, thanks to the country implementing a unilateral visa-free policy.
Australia and China also jointly declared to provide multiple-entry visas mutually with a validity period of three to five years.
According to the National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), the number of Australian visitors to China is continuously increasing.
In October 2023, the NIA released a list of 53 eligible countries for a 72/144-hour visa-free transit, including the UK, France and Australia. Then on May 15 this year, the NIA permitted the entry of foreign tourists by cruise ship without a visa, facilitating inbound visits by Australian residents.
Australia has a large community of Chinese residents; thus the introduction of the unilateral visa-free policy not only facilitates their visits to relatives and friends but also a chance to see the changes in China over the years.
New Zealand will also be included in the unilateral visa-free list, as flights between China and New Zealand have recovered quickly. Since last December, direct flights between China and New Zealand have recovered to that of pre-pandemic period. Six airlines including Air New Zealand, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific are offering direct flights from eight stops in China to New Zealand.
China has been continuously expanding the unilateral visa-free countries since 2023 – to date, China has implemented unilateral visa-free for countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and more. Additionally, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Georgia are mutually visa-free countries with China.