China restricts flight cabin baggage for security 
In lieu of the Olympic security crack-down. business and economy class passengers will now only be able to take one piece of baggage on board, which must not exceed 5kg, the General Administration of Civil Aviation said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING - CHINA will restrict most passengers from taking more than one piece of carry-on baggage on flights from May 1, the aviation regulator said on Friday, in the latest of a pre-Olympic security crack down.
Earlier this month, China added matches and lighters to a list of banned items on board domestic flights after what it said was plot to bring down a flight from the restive far western region of Xinjiang.
The government has banned passengers carrying liquids on board domestic flights since March 13.
Business and economy class passengers will now only be able to take one piece of baggage on board, which must not exceed 5kg, the General Administration of Civil Aviation said.
First class passengers will be allowed to take on two pieces, and the restrictions will only apply to domestic flights, the watchdog added.
The measure is 'to guarantee aviation security', it said.
A passenger jet from the mainly Muslim region of Xinjiang made a forced landing after two people were discovered planning a 'terrorist attack', state media said last month.
Chinese officials said internationally backed separatists seeking an independent Xinjiang were behind the failed March 7 attack.
Officials have not provided a detailed account of the incident. But sources said that the chief suspects boarded the flight carrying drink cans that contained flammable liquids.
China's ethnic tensions have come into focus in the wake of anti-Chinese protests in Tibet and Tibetan areas last month. -- REUTERS
