The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, on October 5 (Valletta time), signed an air services agreement on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the Government of the Republic of Malta in Valletta, Malta.

     Representing the Government of the Republic of Malta to sign the agreement was the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Joe Mizzi. 

     The agreement provides a legal framework for establishing air links between Hong Kong and Malta, which will promote economic development and cultural exchanges between the two places.

     Professor Cheung said that the agreement was the 66th signed by Hong Kong with its overseas aviation partners. With the establishing of direct air links, Hong Kong and Malta will be better poised to seize the economic development opportunities emerging from the Belt and Road Initiative.

     "We look forward to strengthening our co-operation with Malta in the future," he added.

     A list of countries that have signed air services agreements with Hong Kong as of October 2016 is at the Annex.

Ends/Thursday, October 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 9:30

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