Fighting TERRORISM: How Far Can We Go?

Just recently I took a 21 hour flight on my way back to the U.S. We had a stop over in Hong Kong because our flight for the U.S. doesn’t leave until the following day.


On the day when we were to take the Hong Kong to New York flight, I was shocked at the new rules for taking liquids with you on board an airplane.


Starting 21 March 2007, departing passengers can carry only a limited quantity of liquids in their hand baggage as an additional security measure as directed by the Civil Aviation Department. This is also a new guideline adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization.


According to the new rule, the following items may be carried in your hand baggage only if they are stored in containers up to 100 ml and placed in transparent re-sealable plastic bag. (They actually give out transparent re-sealable plastic bags at the airport which is approximately 8” by 8” in dimension.)



  • Gels (e.g., hair gel, shower gel)

  • Lotions and liquids (e.g., sun cream, suntan oil, suntan spray, face cream, body lotion, roll-on deodorant, perfume, aftershave lotion)

  • Pastes (e.g., toothpaste, Vaseline cream, eye shadow)

  • Pressurized foams and sprays (e.g., shaving foam, shower foam, tanning foam, deodorant)

  • Foodstuff (e.g., water, soft drinks, yoghurt, soup, syrup)

  • Liquid cosmetics (e.g., foundation, lip gloss, liquid mascara, make-up remover, nail polish)


All liquids that are more than 100 ml must be packed into checked luggage. The check-in attendants at the check-in counters can provide a box to hold all liquid stuff over 100 ml for check-in, in case there’s no more room in your checked luggage. Note that bottles over 100 ml, whether empty or partially filled are also not allowed to be carried in your hand baggage.


It is then important that as you check-in you make sure that you comply with this guideline. If you still insist on carrying stuff that is more than the 100 ml quantity that they allow, you’re in for a surprise. Say ‘bye-bye’ to your stuff because you won’t make it past the security scanners and the disposal bin waiting at the security check-in area.


This is quite inconvenient especially for those people who really have a need to carry necessary liquids like baby formula or baby food, medicine kits and other essentials for the trip. But they do allow exceptions provided you submit the necessary stuff for inspection and x-ray at the security check area.


Now let me just say that, indeed, the fight against terrorism has taken a new level to a point of really inconveniencing travelers. But do we have a choice if we want to make sure that we get to our destination safely?


Sadly, we just have to settle for inconvenience, in exchange of our safety. My only apprehension is how much more can terrorism push our buttons? Maybe in a few years time, we will no longer be able to carry electronic gadgets on board an airplane. I don’t think that’s a remote possibility. It’s just a matter of time before these sick souls will devise a way to terrorize our skies again. However heavenly their cause is, it’s just downright rotten and ungodly.

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