Ombudsman calls for real-name registration policy for paragliding activities

Hong Kong's ombudsman has called on the city’s aviation authorities to roll out a real-name registration policy for paragliding activities after they have become more popular in recent years with accidents happening from time to time.

The government watchdog said on Thursday that the Civil Aviation Department - the overseer of civil aviation safety in Hong Kong - has a duty to regulate local paragliding activities and enforce paragliding-related legislation so as to ensure aviation and public safety.

The ombudsman’s investigation has found that prior to 2018, the department had not proactively reviewed and modified its regulatory efforts with respect to local paragliding
activities, nor had it enforced paragliding-related legislation conscientiously.

At present, those who engage in paragliding activities in Hong Kong are not required to register with any government authority or organization, or make any pre-flight planning or post-flight record.

“As a result, under general circumstances, the Civil Aviation Department can in no way confirm the identities of the pilots engaging in paragliding activities, let alone taking follow-up or enforcement action against those pilots who are suspected to have breached the law,” the watchdog noted.

It called on the department to require persons who engage in paragliding activities in Hong Kong to register in real-name advance, as well as the paragliding equipment they use to raise the chance of successfully identifying the paraglider pilots.

Separately, the watchdog has found aviation authorities failing to hold the paraglider pilots in breach of the law accountable and liable.

“We consider that the Civil Aviation Department…has the duty to take up a more active role in enforcement and investigation.

“The Civil Aviation Department should [also] consider allocating more resources to step up
enforcement and regulation under the permit system by, say, deploying staff to conduct
site inspections and permit-checking at hotspots of paragliding air services,” the watchdog added.