BRIEFING FOR MR PATTEN ON AIR SERVICE ISSUES AFFECTING HONG KONG
A. HONG KONG AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS
1. The Joint Declaration provides that after 1997 Hong Kong will
continue to manage civil aviation, airports and flight
information; to issue licences to airlines based in Hong Kong and
to issue operating permits to foreign airlines serving Hong Kong;
to renew and amend ASAS previously in force and to conclude new
ASAS (other than with the PRC or containing routes including
points in the PRC). Hong Kong has been acting on its own behalf
in many of these areas, particularly the technical ones, for many
years. Historically, however, all scheduled air services to Hong
Kong have been operated under UK ASAs or similar arrangements
negotiated by the UK. Their application to Hong Kong would cease
automatically in 1997.
2. In order further to build up the autonomy of Hong Kong and to
ensure Hong Kong's continuing importance after 1997 as a major
aviation centre, therefore, Hong Kong is systematically being
removed from the umbrella of UK ASAS as separate Hong Kong ASAS,
capable of continuing beyond 1997, are negotiated with Hong
Kong's existing aviation partners. 13 such ASAS have now been
negotiated and a further seven or so remain to be completed
before 1997. Once negotiated, and prior to signature, the ASA
texts are shown to the Chinese authorities SO that they can
satisfy themselves that their interests are not adversely
affected post 1997. In addition to such separated ASAS, Hong Kong has been authorised to negotiate ASAS with new partners (where there is currently no UK ASA covering Hong Kong's interests) and
has completed negotiation of five such agreements. The texts of
these ASAS are also shown to the Chinese. It is expected that at
least a further five such ASAs will be negotiated over the next
four years.