Travellers from Hongkong are the least likely to submit to an airport full body scan if it means giving away personal information, according to the recently released Global Unisys Security Index research.
Of the 11 countries included in the survey, Hongkong ranked second lowest – after Mexico – in its support for a range of the latest aviation security initiatives such as full body scans, biometric identification procedure and access to private information.
"This may be because Hongkong travellers have had relatively minimal exposure to security threats close to home," said Terence Wong, practice director - Public Sector, Unisys Hong Kong. "As a result, they may be complacent or over confident in the current levels of security. Alternatively, the results may simply be a reflections of Hong Kong International Airport being constantly ranked as one of the best in the world."
Results of the Unisys security survey show that only 47 percent of Hongkong travellers are willing to undergo a full body scan in the airports, while 90 percent of Britons, 70 percent of Australians and 65 percent of Americans are more amenable about undergoing this extra security procedure. Furthermore, only 47 percent of Hongkong-based travellers are willing to provide personal data (including passport and driver's licence) in advance of travel, while nearly three quarters or 72 percent of their counterparts in the US are willing to exchange privacy for increased security in air travel.
Unisys noted that recent high-profile security infringements, particularly the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing in the US, are responsible for the big disparity in the survey results in Hongkong and the western countries.
Hongkong is the only Asian destination included in the latest global security research. Other respondents come from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, the US and the UK.
For more information, visit www.unisyssecurityindex.com.hk
Gigi Onag
