MAC certain air traffic to HK will not be suspended

Air links between Taiwan and Hong Kong will not stop after the aviation agreement between the two expires at the end of the year, said Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday.

Tsai said the probability of a suspension of air traffic was "zero," adding that officials are currently addressing the issue.

Local media has reported that air services between Taiwan and Hong Kong could be disrupted when the aviation accord expires at the end of the year as a result of Beijing's interference.

Fielding questions at the Legislative Yuan, Tsai said there is no possibility for the Taiwan-Hong Kong air links to be disrupted, adding that she would not comment further until details of the issue had been hammered out.

Under the current Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation pact signed in 1996, the two sides must review the agreement every five years. When the pact expired June 12 this year, the two sides agreed to extend it to the end of this year.