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In-flight thefts surge to 169 cases in Hong Kong, most on flights from SE Asia

Hong Kong Free Press

In-flight thefts surge to 169 cases in Hong Kong, most on flights from Southeast Asia

Hong Kong saw 169 in-flight theft cases in the first ten months of the year, most of which were on short-haul flights arriving in the city from Southeast Asia, the Security Bureau has said.

That compares to 92 cases last year, and 147 cases in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to police records cited in security chief Chris Tang’s written response to lawmaker Kennedy Wong.

Cathay airplanes parked at the Hong Kong International Airport on July 14 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“With the easing of the pandemic, Hong Kong resumed normal cross-boundary travel in early 2023. Air traffic has recovered steadily with a drastic increase in the number of flights and inbound travellers,” Tang said.

He also said the increase over last year’s figures could be attributed to the fact that the police had stepped up publicity efforts to encourage people to report crimes.

In the 10-month period, four Chinese nationals have been arrested on suspicion of theft on board an aircraft. One is on remand pending trial, and another is on bail pending further investigation.

Charges were withdrawn against the other two after consultation with the Department of Justice, “since there was insufficient evidence or the witnesses were unwilling to return to Hong Kong to testify.”

Majority on Southeast Asian flights

Of the 169 theft cases, 70 per cent were on short-haul flights from Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Vietnam, while about 20 per cent were on inbound flights from Dubai, Türkiye, and Doha.

Seven per cent were on flights from mainland China, Japan and South Korea, and the remaining three per cent were on flights from the US, Canada, Australia and Switzerland.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang announces the beginning of the public consultation period for Hong Kong's homegrown security law, Article 23, on January 30, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. — Secretary for Security Chris Tang on January 30, 2024. File Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The stolen property consisted mostly of cash, expensive jewellery, watches, and credit cards, with a combined value of about HK$4.32 million, according to the police.

The police have also stepped up intelligence exchanges with airlines to identify high-risk routes and periods during which thefts are committed, Tang said.

He also said the government had no plans to mandate the installation of surveillance cameras or to station security staff on flights, having taken into account personal privacy and manpower issues.

“Currently, there are no international policies regulating the installation of CCTV or arrangements of security staff on duty inside cabins, nor are these common practices generally adopted by airlines,” he said.

“These arrangements may not conform to the principle of proportionality,” he said.

Tang said the police organised 38 seminars on topics including in-flight theft and crime prevention.

“In general, crime prevention seminars organised regularly by the Police for various sectors in the community will also include messages that remind the public to properly secure their personal belongings when travelling,” Tang said.

The police will place promotional leaflets at the airport and will look into launching a new round of education with airlines, he added.

Under Hong Kong law, theft is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment.

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