etravelconsult
Nov 23, 01, 8:23 am
HK-Taiwan air accord likely to be extended again
A commercial agreement governing air services between Hong Kong and Taiwan is again expected to be renewed with existing terms next month as the two sides have yet to begin talks ahead of its expiration.
The five-year accord was signed in 1996 by airlines from the two sides and was to have expired on 12 June. Delays in deciding which political body would negotiate new arrangements forced its extension to late next month.
Interested parties will not comment officially but industry sources in Hong Kong and Taiwan say there has still been no progress on scheduling new talks.
As China considers Taiwan a renegade province the breakaway island state has no diplomatic relations with Hong Kong, which reverted to Chinese control in 1997. As a result airlines from each side have traditionally been forced to negotiate air services arrangements and have their agreements approved by government bodies.
Taiwan has been insisting that Hong Kong’s Government negotiate a new agreement and has accused authorities in Beijing of refusing to allow this.
The six-month extension to the 1996 accord was signed in June by four airlines operating between Hong Kong and Taiwan, namely Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Air.
Hong Kong-Taiwan air services are considered vital as there are no direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China, forcing travellers to make transit stops in third points, usually Hong Kong or Macau. Dragonair and EVA, which operate far fewer flights between the two sides than Cathay and CAL, have been seeking additional service rights.
Airlines from the two sides currently use their full entitlements laid out in the air accord. The agreement allows carriers from each side to operate up to 121 weekly flights between Hong Kong and both Taiwan’s capital Taipei and the southern port city of Kaohsiung.
A commercial agreement governing air services between Hong Kong and Taiwan is again expected to be renewed with existing terms next month as the two sides have yet to begin talks ahead of its expiration.
The five-year accord was signed in 1996 by airlines from the two sides and was to have expired on 12 June. Delays in deciding which political body would negotiate new arrangements forced its extension to late next month.
Interested parties will not comment officially but industry sources in Hong Kong and Taiwan say there has still been no progress on scheduling new talks.
As China considers Taiwan a renegade province the breakaway island state has no diplomatic relations with Hong Kong, which reverted to Chinese control in 1997. As a result airlines from each side have traditionally been forced to negotiate air services arrangements and have their agreements approved by government bodies.
Taiwan has been insisting that Hong Kong’s Government negotiate a new agreement and has accused authorities in Beijing of refusing to allow this.
The six-month extension to the 1996 accord was signed in June by four airlines operating between Hong Kong and Taiwan, namely Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Air.
Hong Kong-Taiwan air services are considered vital as there are no direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China, forcing travellers to make transit stops in third points, usually Hong Kong or Macau. Dragonair and EVA, which operate far fewer flights between the two sides than Cathay and CAL, have been seeking additional service rights.
Airlines from the two sides currently use their full entitlements laid out in the air accord. The agreement allows carriers from each side to operate up to 121 weekly flights between Hong Kong and both Taiwan’s capital Taipei and the southern port city of Kaohsiung.