ABOUT 200 strike-breaking Cathay Pacific flight attendants have been moved out of Hongkong to other Asian cities to avoid picket lines at Kai Tak, according to the airline, as both sides appeared to be moving towards a resumption of talks to settle the week-old dispute.
Cathay Pacific's managing director, Mr Rod Eddington, said the company had set up bases in Manila, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka and Singapore to help keep working staff away from Hongkong and maintain key holiday routes over the Lunar New Year.
''Quite a few girls have said they are extremely worried about the picketing, particularly outside their homes,'' Mr Eddington said.
''They did not want to run the gauntlet in Hongkong.'' He said that cabin crew in Manila had first suggested the move.
''We have three flights to Manila each day and need about four crews to man these flights and have four crews based there,'' he said.
''There are also three crews in Tokyo, three in Osaka and a similar number in Bangkok.'' Flight Attendants' Union (FAU) spokeswoman Ms Rachel Varghese claimed the management was holding some crews against their will.