B737-300 FLT CREW WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE PURSER HAD OPENED SECURITY KIT FOR ACCESS TO TAPE. TAPE WAS USED TO SECURE PAX TRAY TABLE FOR LNDG.

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AFTER ARR IN DENVER PURSER ADVISED US TRAY TABLE SEAT XXB WOULD NOT STAY UP DUE TO LATCH BEING BROKEN. HE ALSO ADVISED US THEY USED THE TAPE OUT OF SECURITY KIT TO HOLD TRAY TABLE UP FOR LNDG. FLT WAS FULL SO HE COULD NOT MOVE PAX. NOTIFIED MAINT CTR TO ENTER INTO THE MAINT COMPUTER. MECH THAT CAME UP TO ACFT WITH NEW TAPE ROLL ASKED WHO OPENED THE SECURITY KIT. I ADVISED HIM THE PURSER HAD DONE IT TO HOLD THE TRAY TABLE UP WITH GOOD INTENTIONS. THE MECH SAID THE FAA FROWNS ON USE OF THE TAPE OUT OF THIS KIT EXCEPT FOR SECURITY REASONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT; BUT IN THIS SITUATION I THINK THE PURSER MADE A GOOD DECISION TO PROTECT THE PAX IN THIS SEAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK CONCERNING THE FAA'S STAND IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 748756: I FORGOT TO MENTION THE PURSER SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME OF THE SITUATION WITH THE TRAY TABLE. HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE LATE NOTIFICATION; BUT SAID THE TRAY TABLE BROKE DURING THE APCH PHASE OF FLT AND DID NOT WANT TO INTERRUPT US.