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The following is issued on behalf of the Air Transport Licensing Authority:
In response to a statement today (August 13) issued by Jetstar Hong Kong Airways Limited (JHK), the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) responded as follows:
Pursuant to Article 134(2) of the Basic Law, ATLA may issue licences to airlines incorporated in and having their principal place of business (PPB) in Hong Kong. In addition, to be eligible for the licence, the applicant has to provide the required information to the satisfaction of ATLA that the applicant has complied with the relevant requirements of the Air Transport (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations (Cap. 448A).
ATLA had handled the licence application of JHK in accordance with the stipulations under the Regulation as well as its Procedural Guidelines. ATLA had also discussed with JHK and the objectors during the process and obtained their consensual views on the procedures for dealing with the objections and representations.
The Basic Law has not set out any definition of the term "PPB". In arriving at its decision, ATLA has referred to authorities from other jurisdictions on the interpretation of "PPB" and relevant information as provided by JHK and the objectors during the public inquiry.
ATLA has been handling applications on the same basis. In fact, both incumbent licence holders and new applicants have to fulfil the PPB requirement. ATLA holds the same set of considerations and has not imposed different criteria with regard to JHK.
Ends/Thursday, August 13, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:31
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