The Civil Aviation Department signed an arrangement on mutual acceptance of approval of aircraft maintenance organisations with its Mainland and Macau counterparts in Beijing today, saving time and resources for the three authorities.

Director-General of Civil Aviation Norman Lo said the new pact extended the maintenance cover from components to entire aircraft.

Repairers in Hong Kong will be allowed to fix planes registered in the Mainland and Macau without regulatory approval, while their two counterparts can repair Hong Kong-registered planes on the same basis. The move also gives the airline industries on all sides more choice in maintenance contractors.

The department has entered into similar arrangements with Singapore and Canada and is in active discussions with the regulators of other countries.