A 30-year-old Filipino man was fined HK$1,000 (US$127) at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on May 14 after pleading guilty to one charge of possession of arms without a license.
Rafael Revilla Flogo, who was on a layover in Hong Kong during his trip to London on May 13, was detained at the airport after he was found to have a tear gas canister, an extendable baton, a flashlight and a pair of handcuffs in his carry-on luggage, sunwebhk.com reported.
Flogo, a security guard, said his new employer in Britain had asked him to bring the items with him and he was not aware it was illegal to carry them on the flight. Before leaving Manila, Flogo said he had asked his former boss at a security firm if he could take the items and was assured it was alright.
Flogo was told Hong Kong has very strict laws against bringing in arms, ammunition and explosives, including the items found in his possession. The prohibition also extends to bullets, whether live or empty. After paying a fine, Flogo was released and flew on to London on May 26.
He was given shelter by a group of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong while waiting for his employer to buy him a new ticket. He asked that warning about the illegal items be relayed to other Filipinos.