China to be strengthened her airport security in 2017

                              

A revision of the security check procedures in civil aviation was passed in August, and is set to take effect from the beginning of next year, enabling passengers with special needs and requirements to ask for security checks to take place in private, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Administration on Friday.

With the new regulations, the physically disabled and passengers who are implanted with cardiac pacemakers can request that they have their security checks done in a private space instead of standing in front of the public. Two airport security staff members, who would be the same gender as the passenger, will be responsible for body scanning and other safety check procedures.

The newly-revised regulations also mean that passengers who are taking valuable carry-on goods can also have private security checks out of sight of the public, but what defines “valuable carry-on goods” has not been clarified.

More rights will also be granted to security staff at airports, according to the new regulations. Staff will be entitled to ask passengers to undergo a second check, even if the security system does not give out any specific alert over that passenger.

For those who do not comply with the new regulations, security staff can hand them over to the police. Around 14 possible situations have been detailed in the regulations, including attempts to carry prohibited articles onboard, as well as disturbing the security check process. Passengers who take photos of and record the security check process will also be turned over to the police if they ignore the requests of the security staff.

Since reports about the new regulations were released on Sina Weibo, netizens have had their say about the incoming new rules.

“Security checks cannot be loosened, they are for everyone, including yourself,” said @100fuzhang.

“Personally, I think it is a little bit improper or unfair not to let passengers take photos and make video recordings. After all, police can do both of these in the name of law enforcement. Yet, random photography would infringe on others’ privacy. It seems a little troublesome by making this regulation,” commented @Guxingyaoyue.

“What counts as valuable?” asked @Nimeiyounizijixiangdenamezhongyao, referring to the private security checks for people with “valuable carry-on goods.”.

The Global Times reported earlier this year that Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in China’s Hubei Province would “speed up airport security checks with ‘women-only’ lanes,” a move that would also maintain privacy for female travelers, and one that has already been adopted by airports in Beijing, Shenzhen and Kunming. The women-only lanes met a mixed reaction on social media, according to the report.