Yao said the upgrade aims to increase the facility’s departure screening capacity by 20 percent, allowing it to handle about 10,000 passengers per hour.
The first four new security checkpoints are scheduled to be installed next Tuesday in the south and north departure halls of the airport’s Terminal 1.
The airport’s departure hall currently has 35 security lanes, each handling 240 passengers per hour.
Hong Kong becomes world’s first airport to fully implement smart security screening system, Steven Yu, Airports Authority
This clever renovation will reduce the number of lanes to 28, with each lane capable of handling 360 people per hour.
The smart upgrade will include automated baggage handling trays that can accommodate three people at a time, and new computed tomography (CT) X-ray machines to replace the existing scanners.
The device scans passengers’ carry-on luggage and produces 3D images for analysis, reducing scanning time from 15 seconds to 10 seconds.
Under the new procedures, passengers no longer need to remove electronic devices or liquids from their carry-on bags, although liquids over 100ml will still be banned.
“The reason laptops are currently removed from carry-on luggage during security checks is because other items are hidden in the existing two-dimensional X-ray scan images,” Yu said.
“This new system will enable security officers to analyse the internal structure of luggage in three dimensions and from multiple angles, making it easier to identify potential contraband.”
The new full-body scanners will replace manual checks of passengers who set off metal detectors, reducing the need for contact between travelers and security personnel.
“The new system allows three passengers to prepare for testing procedures at the same time,” Yu said.
The device can scan passengers’ luggage and generate 3D images for analysis. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
However, Yao said there was no current timetable for when the airport’s Terminal 2 would receive a smart security upgrade.
The announcement came shortly after a computer glitch wiped real-time flight data from airport display screens on Sunday, causing some passengers to miss their flights.
Yao said there was room for improvement in back-up measures and emergency preparedness, but stressed that the new security channels were operated separately, with each having its own computer system.
“[The system] “It does not rely on an internet connection to link all security inspection channels together, so there is no situation where all channels cannot operate simultaneously.”
Jacob Chan Tak-keung, executive director of Aviation Security Company Ltd, which runs the airport’s security services, said about 3,100 staff have been trained to operate the new system, which will allow flexibility in terms of personnel schedules.
“With the introduction of new technology, we expect to be able to reduce staffing by a quarter during off-peak hours,” he said, adding that staffing needs may remain the same during busy periods.
Hong Kong launched its Smart City Blueprint 2.0 in 2020, an effort to improve the lives of its residents through more than 130 innovation and technology initiatives across areas including mobility, living, environment, people, government and economy.
