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Hong Kong signs new air services agreement with Italy
An Air Services Agreement (ASA) was signed in Rome today (Wednesday, Rome time) between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of the Italian Republic.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Hong Kong while Mr Claudio Burlando, Minister of Transport and Navigation, signed on behalf of the Government of the Italian Republic.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Tsang said that the new agreement would provide a firm legal and regulatory framework for the continued development of air services between Hong Kong and Italy up to and beyond 1997.
Mr Tsang also noted that the Hong Kong/Italy ASA was the fourteenth air services agreement signed by Hong Kong. He further reiterated Hong Kong Government's commitment to maintaining Hong Kong's status as a centre of international and regional aviation.
Cathay Pacific and Alitalia together operate nine return services per week between Hong Kong and Italy, offering a total capacity of about 2,300 seats and 220 tonnes of cargo in each direction.
Hong Kong has also signed air services agreements with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Brunei, France, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Korea and Singapore.
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CMB conciliation meeting
A Chief Labour Officer of the Labour Department, Mrs Chan Mak Kit-ling, conducted a conciliation meeting between the management and staff representatives of the China Motor Bus (CMB) Company at the company's Chai Wan office this (Thursday) afternoon to discuss the question of retirement benefits.
The conciliation meeting was arranged by Mrs Chan who was appointed as the Special Conciliation Officer by the Commissioner for Labour, Miss Jacqueline Willis, on October 7 under the Labour Relations Ordinance to mediate the trade dispute between the bus company and its employees.