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TRANSPORT
Air Hong Kong (AHK) continued to operate scheduled all-cargo services to Manchester and non-scheduled cargo services between Hong Kong and a number of points, including Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Sydney. The airline operates two B707 freighter aircraft.
Last year there were significant developments in the air services between Hong Kong and China. Following a re-organisation of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), its operations to Hong Kong are now shared by Air China (serving Beijing), China Eastern Airlines and the Guangzhou Regional Administration of CAAC. Arrange- ments for the expansion of services between Hong Kong and China were agreed. Chinese airlines introduced scheduled services on the Dalian-Hong Kong and Xiamen-Hong Kong routes. Having operated non-scheduled services to China for more than four years, Dragonair commenced scheduled services to Dalian, Hangzhou, Kunming and Xiamen and took over from CPA the operation of scheduled services to Beijing and Shanghai.
Other major developments during the year included the introduction by two American airlines, United Parcel Service and Evergreen International Airlines, of scheduled all-cargo services between the United States and Hong Kong in January and April respectively and by Asiana Airlines of scheduled passenger services between Seoul and Hong Kong in December.
With these changes, the number of scheduled airlines serving Hong Kong has increased to 43. During 1990, these airlines operated about 870 direct round trip services weekly between Hong Kong and some 80 other cities. In addition to the scheduled services, an average of 240 non-scheduled flights were operated each week.
In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the process of separating Hong Kong's air service agreements from those of the United Kingdom is continuing. The fifth Hong Kong Air Service Agreement, which was concluded by Hong Kong with the Government of France, was signed in Hong Kong on August 20, 1990.
In 1990, the Air Transport Licensing Authority granted a total of five licences to Hong Kong airlines: one to Cathay Pacific Airways, three to Dragonair and one to Air Hong Kong. Taken together with those granted in previous years, this meant that, at December 31, Cathay Pacific Airways held licences to operate scheduled services to 60 cities in 31 countries, Dragonair was licensed to serve 52 cities in 11 countries, and Air Hong Kong was licensed to operate scheduled all-cargo services to 17 cities in 12 countries.
There were also major developments in respect of helicopter services. On November 27, 1990 the first commercial service to Macau was operated from the helipad at the Macau Ferry Terminal by East Asia Airlines.