Ethiopia, Hong Kong ink air services deal
Oct 25, 2006 (HONG KONG) — The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed an Air Services Agreement with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia here Wednesday.
The Hong Kong Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip and State Minister of Ministry of Transportation and Communication of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Getachew Mengiste attended the signing ceremony to sign the agreement.
“The Air Services Agreement signed today provides a legal framework for the establishment of air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia. It opens a new chapter in the development of air services between the two places,” said Ip at the ceremony.
“To enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalization policy in aviation,” Ip added.
Ethiopia has an extensive aviation network for eastern and central Africa. More air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia would encourage more passenger and cargo traffic between eastern and central Africa and Asia to flow through Hong Kong. At present, Ethiopian Airlines is providing three weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
The Air Services Agreement with Ethiopia is Hong Kong’s 56th Air Services Agreement with foreign aviation partners.
(Xinhua)