XN000022-1994-10-07 — Page 6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1994

ROUND, THE STAGE STRENGTHENED

"WITH THE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE URUGUAY APPEARS SET FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUED EXPANSION WITHIN A MULTILATERAL SYSTEM," HE SAID.

DISCUSSANTS, TWO

AMBASSADOR

HIS REMARKS WERE ECHOED BY THE ARMSTRONG FROM NEW ZEALAND AND MR PALECKA FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

IF THE CURRENT CYCLE OF REVIEW IS MAINTAINED, NEXT BE REVIEWED IN 1998.

HONG KONG WILL

HERCULES PROPERLY LICENSED FOR VM FLIGHTS

HERCULES WAS NOT

THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR PETER LOK KUNG-NAM, TODAY (FRIDAY) CATEGORICALLY REJECTED THE ALLEGATION THAT THE AIRCRAFT USED TO RETURN VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG PROPERLY CERTIFICATED TO CARRY PASSENGERS.

OF

INDONESIA

"THE COMPETENT AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES AUTHORISED THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE DOMESTIC AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER CARRIAGE, " HE SAID.

THE CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS FITTED OUT IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER ΤΟ CARRY PASSENGERS AND AFTER "THE AUTHORITIES WERE SATISFIED THAT IT HAD ADEQUATE SAFETY FEATURES, MR LOK SAID.

TO

"THE HERCULES USED FOR THE REPATRIATION FLIGHTS HAD ADEQUATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INCLUDING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND LIFERAFTS FOR UP 150 PEOPLE, HE POINTED OUT.

"

"CONTRARY TO A PRESS REPORT STATING THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OUT OF THE CARGO HOLD OF THE PLANE IN AN EMERGENCY, THE HERCULES IN AND ITS REAR QUESTION HAD TWO EXTRA SIDE DOORS IN THE REAR FUSELAGE LANDING RAMP COULD BE OPENED IN FLIGHT FOR EVACUATION IN A FORCED LANDING,' HE ADDED.

17

MR LOK SAID THE CERTIFICATION WAS DONE BY INDONESIA AS A MEMBER STATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION (ICAO).

"UNDER ICAO RULES, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUING SUCH CERTIFICATES RESTS WITH THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION OF THE AIRCRAFT CONCERNED, AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE MEMBER STATE TO SEEK THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE OF THE AIRCRAFT," MR LOK EMPHASISED.

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