XN000022-1995-07-25 — Page 7

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HK acts in accordance with ICAO practice

An overseas aviation expert confirmed today (Tuesday) that the Hong Kong authorities had acted in accordance with the applicable international practices in considering the applications by Pelita Air Service to operate flights to transport Vietnamese migrants from Hong Kong to Vietnam.

Senior Legal Officer of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Mr Roderick van Dam, was briefing Members of the LegCo Economic Services Panel on the ICAO regulatory system and the procedures applied when applications are made for permits to operate non-scheduled air services.

Another expert, Chief Inspector of Air Accidents of the United Kingdom Department of Transport, Mr Ken Smart, was present to brief the meeting on air accident investigation procedures.

In response to Members' suggestions, the Economic Services Branch has invited experts to brief the panel in connection with an aircraft accident which occurred at the Hong Kong International Airport on September 23 last year involving a Lockheed L-382G Hercules operated by Pelita on a non-passenger carrying flight.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Director of Civil Aviation, Mr Peter Lok, said since the accident, certain supplementary information had been provided by Pelita and its British associates, Heavylift Cargo Airlines.

"The information in particular includes confirmation from Heavylift that the aircraft which crashed had previously been used elsewhere for the carriage of passengers internationally, and provision by the operator of copies of Certificates of Airworthiness issued in respect of the Hercules fleet," he said, adding that the Hong Kong authorities had seen transport category Certificate of Airworthiness for three of the Hercules aircraft but not in respect of the aircraft which crashed.

He told the meeting that the Indonesian authorities had so far failed to respond to Hong Kong's request to see this documentation but said the Hong Kong Government would follow this up.

On the responsibility of ensuring continuing airworthiness of an aircraft, Mr Lok said the US and the UK aeronautical authorities as well as the ICAO had confirmed that airworthiness was a matter for the State of Registry, a point which was confirmed by Mr van Dam.