They will be held this month, and the regulator is committed to adding flights
Hong Kong and central government officials will discuss the opening up of mainland skies to local airlines this month as planned, a mainland official says - dispelling fears the talks were to be postponed indefinitely.
A senior official from the General Administration for Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said more services between Hong Kong and the mainland would be permitted as demand for air travel within the country increased.
Li Jiangmin, of CAAC's air transport division, said the administration had no intention of postponing the meeting with air services negotiators from the Economic Development and Labour Bureau, which has normally been held in the first quarter of each year.
'The air services negotiation with Hong Kong will be held this month, although we haven't yet decided on the date,' he said.
While carriers from both sides have begun to make public their wish lists for the talks, Mr Li would not speculate on the likely outcome of the negotiations, except to say that the CAAC was committed to liberalisation.
'I know different Hong Kong airlines have different demands, but so far we do not have detailed information,' Mr Li said.
