Sky link: Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip and Kenya's Minister for Transport & Communications John Njoroge Michuki at the signing ceremony.

Hong Kong and Kenya have signed an air services agreement to provide a legal framework for the establishment of air links.

Representing Hong Kong and Kenya at the signing ceremony were Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip and Minister for Transport & Communications John Njoroge Michuki.

Mr Ip said the agreement opens a new chapter in the development of air services between the two places.

"To enhance Hong Kong's position as the preferred international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to negotiate more air services agreements with new aviation partners in line with our progressive liberalisation policy in aviation," Mr Ip said.

Kenya Airways provides three weekly direct passenger services between Hong Kong and Nairobi.

The agreement is Hong Kong's 52nd document signed with overseas aviation partners.

Hong Kong now has agreements with Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US and Vietnam.