“355 caught in hijack drama,” ran a South China Morning Post headline on March 23, 1984. “A lone Hongkong hijacker forced a Peking-bound British Airways jumbo to change course and land in Taiwan yesterday,” the story continued. Dennis Leung Wai-keung, 28, boarded the flight at Kai Tak airport, where it picked up 221 passengers. “Leung, travelling economy, was immediately given a first-class seat in the upper deck after he handed a note to a stewardess saying that he wanted the plane to divert to Taiwan and that he had explosives with him,” reported the Post . “Passengers said they did not know they were in Taiwan until the plane landed.” The flight touched down at 2.49pm and Leung was arrested. No explosives were found and by 6.55pm the plane was on its way back to Hong Kong. On March 24, the Post published a copy of a letter with the subject line “re-routing (or hijacking as you might name it)” written by Leung and addressed to the captain. “This is going to be the most important letter to read in your life,” it began. “Please just keep calm and co-operate, we assure you of our good qualities and nature – NO VIOLENCE AT ALL, UNLESS OBLIGATED.” In it, Leung explained his motive was love for his country. “We love our country (China, Taiwan and Hongkong) and we just want them to be better than what they are today, especially China.” According to the Post , “He also confirmed himself as being anti-communist.” In a Taipei court, Leung said: “The action was a symbolic gesture against communism. If we don’t fight back against communists now, they will never be stopped.” He was indicted on July 12, accused of causing possible harm to the safety of passengers and crew and was released on bail. On September 1, the Post reported that he “walked free […] after a Taipei court gave him an 18-month suspended jail sentence”.