Official denies secret talks

An official in charge of China policy dismissed media reports yesterday that the government has sent secret envoys to negotiate a Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation accord. Chen Ming-tung (陳明通), vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said that the Taiwan Airlines Association is currently in negotiations with Hong Kong on the signing of the aviation pact, adding that until the negotiations are concluded, the MAC will not comment further. He made the remarks after media reports said that legislators Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), Wang Tuoh (王拓) and Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) went to Beijing earlier this month to exchange views with the aviation authorities there on who should be the signatories of the accord.