Originally Posted by
Metanoia
Baggage inspections, additional security screening/wanding, swabs, questions... it changes every time to keep a random element of surprise to it. And there are passengers who get "SSSS" on their boarding passes on these flights so there's that as well. These all happen at the boarding gate.
I wonder if they will take away the Iranian caviar that I plan to purchase at duty free. Passengers do get their carry on X-ray right before boarding at HKG for US bound flights.