Beijing, July 17 -- No matter what the weather does, the skies will be clear over
Shanghai as it hosts football matches as part of the
Beijing Olympic Games.
The city government yesterday made it clear that small aircraft, right down to model planes and hot-air balloons, are not welcome from this Sunday until September 1.
The
Shanghai Public Security Bureau said the rules applied to citizens, corporations and organizations and that aviation suppliers were also on the no-fly list. Police said exceptions would be made to serve the needs of the Olympics.
The banned list includes helicopters, gliders, delta-wing and dynamic-delta-wing planes, manned balloons, blimps, both motorized and free-sailing paragliders, unmanned large and tethered balloons and remote-controlled model planes, according to a bureau notice.
Special flights for Olympics purposes will require the consent of the organizing committee of the
Shanghai division of the Games, plus the original approval paperwork.
The police bureau has urged residents to call "110 Command Center" if they see small aircraft in flight during the embargo period.
Pilots or operators may be transferred to the judiciary if the offence is deemed serious.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up security inspections at
Shanghai ports and air terminals in the lead-up to the Olympics.
Waigaoqiao Port immigration police apprehended a foreign sailor carrying seven illegal knives when he disembarked from a Libyan container vessel on Tuesday night.
He told police he bought the seven knives, including six daggers, for US$18 each in Singapore several months ago when the freighter stopped by that port.
Police found the knives in his luggage during an immigration check.
Under Chinese law, people carrying illicit knives and other weapons are subject to five days' detention and a 500-yuan (73.40 U.S. dollars) fine.
Shanghai immigration police have urged both Chinese and foreign passengers to learn what material is banned from carry-on luggage when traveling by air, rail and sea to avoid delays and possible fines.
(Source:
Shanghai Daily)
