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The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, today (October 25) signed on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region an Air Services Agreement with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Hong Kong.
Representing the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia at the signing ceremony was H.E. Mr Getachew Mengiste, State Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Communication of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has an extensive aviation network for eastern and central Africa. More air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia would encourage more passenger and cargo traffic between eastern and central Africa and Asia to flow through Hong Kong. At present, Ethiopian Airlines is providing three weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
"The Air Services Agreement signed today provides a legal framework for the establishment of air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia. It opens a new chapter in the development of air services between the two places," said Mr Ip at the signing ceremony.
"To enhance Hong Kong's position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalisation policy in aviation," Mr Ip added.
The Air Services Agreement with Ethiopia is Hong Kong's 56th Air Services Agreement with foreign aviation partners.
Hong Kong has signed Air Services Agreements with Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA and Vietnam.
Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:13
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