By 3 News online staff
A bag holding NZ$1 million in cash was lost at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) by airline staff last Friday following a flight from Auckland.
The missing bag was one of 13, carrying a total of NZ$10 million in cash, flown to Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific flight, the Shanghaiist website says, citing a report from Chinese language website Oriental Daily.
The website says the bags, which had G4S International Logistics (G4Si) labelling, were being delivered to the Bank of China with a luggage box through the cargo transfer service provided by Cathay Pacific's subsidiary, Hong Kong Airport Services.
"Surveillance footage shows that the three bags fell out from the trailer, which was not properly fastened, while it was making a turn at a corner," the Shanghaiist says.
"During the transfer, there was only a driver on board without a security guard. Only 10 minutes later when the cargo arrived at the station, the driver realised the bags were missing."
It is understood two of the three bags were found on the tarmac, the other is currently missing.
A Cathay Pacific spokesperson confirmed to the New Zealand Herald a "valuable shipment" was transported by the airline on Friday.
"Upon arrival it was transferred to the cargo terminal where part of the cargo shipment was found missing," she says.
"As the case is under police investigation, we are unable to provide further details."
G4Si has denied responsibility for the suspected lost, but insured, money.
"This loss occurred within the controlled airside sector of HKIA – a restricted area that we are not allowed access to," commodities director Janet Leung told the South China Morning Post.
"We can confirm that the missing banknotes were safe and accounted for during the entire time it was in G4Si's possession, up until it was in the controlled airside sector.”
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