Originally Posted by
CrazyJ82
...There are a couple restaurants or coffee shops in the arrival channel before immigration...
Originally Posted by
synthkeys
...I was waiting until 7:30 when the e-channel registration office opens...
Originally Posted by
jagmeets
Asia/HKG are practical..afaik, ‘waiting for a friend’ is a valid reason to be at a place where you’re not supposed to ‘not be’...
Originally Posted by
percysmith
I waited at UO ground agents desk for 40 mins to get my camera I left on board back...
Originally Posted by
nightkhan
There are always people waiting around airside before immigration. People are always napping on the benches, and I've waited there in the morning before as well to wait for the e-channel office to open.
Before all of you jump to the conclusion, it is time to read the HKG's bylaw.
Per Section 20 - Loitering:
(1)No person shall loiter in any part of the Bylaw Area without . An Authorized Officer or an Authorized Person may request a person to leave the Bylaw Area or any particular part thereof if that person is reasonably suspected of loitering in any part of the Bylaw Area without reasonable cause.
In explaning, the Court of Final Appeal mentions:
The Bylaw Area is not a public place for the exercise of one’s freedom of movement (as submitted by Mr Chan). It is designated for use by members of the public for, but only for, the ordinary and legitimate purposes connected with the use of the Airport, such as waiting for planes to arrive or depart, meeting or picking up people arriving at the Airport, or seeing friends and relatives off. It is contemplated that people may have to idle, linger and hang about in the Bylaw Area for such purposes. As a matter of fact, it is very often necessary to do so. Clearly, the legislature does not intend to penalize people for this type of conduct and activity. It would be absurd to say that the subsection is aimed at prohibiting people from doing precisely what the Bylaw Area is intended to allow them to do. (Tong Yiu Wah v. HKSAR [2007] HKCFA 48)
The purpose of the immigration hall area is obviously clear based on the facilities in the area - Duty free, immigration, transfer, etc. But it is definitely not designed as a waiting area for "waiting for your relatives" purposes as there is a Meeters & Greeters Hall outside the restricted area.
While OP can take a coffee, shop for duty-free, etc. to make the waiting legitimate, other than that simply waiting alone can in fact be interpreted as loitering.