XN000022-1996-10-11 — Page 7

Hong Kong signs new air services agreement with India

The Government yesterday (Thursday) signed an air services agreement with the Government of the Republic of India.

The Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, signed the Agreement on behalf of the Administration while acting Commissioner for India, Mr D K Mallik, signed on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India.

Mr Ip noted the long historical and growing link between Hong Kong and India and the demand for air transport generated.

He considered it important for both Governments and airlines of the two places to work together to ensure that air services between Hong Kong and India will meet the growing demand.

He said the Hong Kong/India Air Services Agreement would provide a firm legal and regulatory framework for the development of air services between Hong Kong and India through to and beyond 1997.

He looked forward to closer ties and the continued expansion of aviation links between the two places in the years to come.

Mr Mallik said the Air Services Agreement would strengthen and develop the air bridge between India and Hong Kong beyond next June.

He expressed confidence that Hong Kong would remain an important business and financial centre of the world in the years to come. In particular, he referred to the efficient communication systems in the territory and Hong Kong's favourable location in one of the most rapidly growing economic regions of the world.

Mr Mallik said the Agreement would facilitate increased involvement of Hong Kong in India's modernisation and liberalisation programme which has begun to gather steam.

The Hong Kong/India Agreement is the fifteenth air services agreement signed by Hong Kong. The others were signed with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Brunei, France, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Korea, Singapore and Italy.

Currently. Cathay Pacific and Air India together operate nine return services per week between Hong Kong and India.

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