VZCZCXRO7904
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHHK #4449 3180738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140738Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9456
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9753
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0192
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0952
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 3425
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 4214

UNCLAS HONG KONG 004449 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/CM 
STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN ENGLE 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/ALFORD 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON HK
SUBJECT: HKGQs Aviation Services Negotiator Michael Wong 
Responds To Tom Engle 
 
REF: HONG KONG 4122 
 
¶1.  Post received letter from Economic Development and 
Labor Bureau Deputy Secretary Michael Wong on November 9 
responding to EB/TRA/AN Director Tom EngleQs October 2 
letter expressing the United StatesQ interest in advancing 
the U.S. - Hong Kong civil aviation relationship (see 
reftel). 
 
¶2.  The text of Michael WongQs letter follows: 
 
Begin Text. 
 
Dear Mr. Engle 
 
Thank you for your letter of 2 October 2006, which was 
conveyed to us by your colleagues at the U.S. Consulate 
General at a meeting on 12 October 2006. 
 
We have taken note of your interest in seeking the further 
liberalization of the current Hong Kong/U.S. bilateral air 
services arrangement.  If I may observe as someone who is 
new to the scene, the current arrangement is already one of 
the most liberal bilateral arrangements that Hong Kong has 
reached with its aviation partners.  In considering further 
room for development, we will look at the commercial 
opportunities that the arrangement is providing to the 
airlines of the two sides, and, ensure that it does so on a 
fair and equitable basis. 
 
In view of your interest and given the time that has lapsed 
since the discussions between our predecessors in 2005 over 
the proposals to further liberalize the Hong Kong / U.S. 
air services arrangement, which are obviously out of date 
by now, we will proceed to consult our airlines on their 
latest views regarding the existing arrangement and 
ascertain their requests.  That process will take some time 
and we will get back to you once we are ready.  In the 
meantime, if you have any specific proposal to make after 
your fresh examination of the U.S.Q position, please do not 
hesitate to let us know. 
 
With Warmest Regards, 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Michael Wong 
 
End Text. 
 
 
CUNNINGHAM