Hong Kong Travellers Amongst Least Willing to Forgo Personal Privacy for Additional Security at Airports

According to new global research released by Unisys, Hong Kong residents are amongst the least willing to forgo personal privacy in exchange for additional aviation security measures at airports.

The Unisys Security Index research found that of the 11 nations surveyed, Hong Kong residents rank second lowest in their support for a range of aviation security initiatives such as full body scans, biometric identification procedures, or access to private information. Only Mexico scored lower in the survey.

“Less than 50% of Hong Kong residents said they would participate in these procedures if it meant some loss of privacy,” said Terence Wong, Practice Director – Public Sector, Unisys Hong Kong. “These results contrast sharply with those seen in many other countries such as the United Kingdom, where 9 out of 10 respondents indicated they would be willing to forgo some level of privacy for additional security measures.”

The following percentages of Hong Kong citizens responded favourably to security precautions:

· 45% said they would be willing to submit to full body electronic body scans at the airport
· 44% said they would be willing to prove their identity by providing biometric data such as iris scans and fingerprints
· 47% said they would be willing to provide personal data in advance of travel including passports and driver’s licences

“Despite recent high profile security infringements, it appears Hong Kong residents are amongst the least willing of the world’s population to forgo some level of personal privacy when it comes to specific security measures,” said Mr. Wong. “This may be because Hong Kong travellers have had relatively minimal exposure to security threats close to home. As a result, they may be complacent or over confident in the current levels of security. Alternatively, the results may simply be a reflection of Hong Kong International Airport being constantly ranked as one of the best in the world.”

The countries surveyed as part of the Unisys Security Index research were the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.

Recognizing the need to address air travel security concerns, Unisys has launch of its Next Generation Airport Passenger Security Solution. This new solution integrates advanced technologies with existing IT and communication systems to provide passengers with an improved travel experience while enhancing security and reducing costs.

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