Hong Kong: Eight arrests in 'masked man' case

EIGHT people have been arrested in Hong Kong suspected of helping smuggle a young Chinese passenger on to a flight to Canada disguised as an elderly white man.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, sought asylum after arriving in Vancouver on 29 October. He is suspected of travelling to Hong Kong with genuine Chinese travel documents, then swapping them for fake papers and donning the remarkably detailed silicone mask to change his appearance before boarding the Air Canada flight. Canadian authorities said he removed the mask in a toilet mid-flight.

Hong Kong police arrested five men and three women this weekend, including a member of Hong Kong International Airport ground staff and two former employees.

The eight are suspected smugglers who are thought to have supplied the passenger with his new travel papers at Hong Kong airport.

A Hollywood-based company, SPFXMasks, said the mask was one of its models, called The Elder. The company said it was proud of how authentic it products look but never intended them to be misused.

The Chinese man, whose name has been barred from publication, remains in custody in Canada pending confirmation of his identity and a ruling on his request for political asylum. Canadian border officials described him as appearing to be in his 20s.