A US state senator was arrested at a Hong Kong airport after he was caught carrying an unlicensed revolver in his luggage.
Washington state senator Jeff Wilson, 63, was reportedly travelling with his wife, Trisha, for a five-week holiday across Southeast Asia.
He claimed he had not realised the gun was in his briefcase when he passed through security at Portland Airport in the United States, and security personnel had somehow also missed it.
But customs officials in Hong Kong discovered the weapon as Wilson arrived at the airport on 21st October.
According to Wilson, he discovered the unloaded revolver inside his briefcase when he reached into it to grab a piece of gum on the flight to Hong Kong. Upon landing, he immediately reported the incident to customs officials.
He was immediately arrested and charged with “possession of firearms without a licence.”
Although the firearm in question is unregistered in Hong Kong, Wilson claimed that it is legally registered in the state of Washington, and he has a concealed carry permit. In the state of Washington, both handguns and long guns can be openly carried without a permit.
Wilson had planned to visit Shanghai, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia but had to surrender his travel documents to the court.
Currently, he has been released on bail for USD 20,000 (GBP 16,400) but is prohibited from leaving Hong Kong.
The case will be reviewed on 30th October at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, where he could face a maximum of 14 years in prison and a fine of USD 12,800 (GBP 10,500).
Additionally, he may face charges in the US. Carrying firearms on an aeroplane without checking them into the hold is illegal, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Firearms can only be transported in checked baggage, and they must be unloaded and declared to the airline during the check-in process.
Senior Hong Kong lawyer Tang Jiahua stated that foreign consuls in Hong Kong enjoy diplomatic immunity when performing duties representing their countries.
However, this immunity does not cover actions outside the scope of their consular functions.
In this case, the defendant does not represent his country, and carrying a firearm into Hong Kong is not considered a state action. Therefore, he is not entitled to diplomatic immunity.
Under Chapter 238 of the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance in Hong Kong, anyone handling firearms or ammunition must possess a valid licence to do so.
Violating this law is a criminal offence, punishable by a maximum fine of HKD 100,000 (GBP 10,500) and 14 years in prison.
