Open skies: Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng and the Maldives' Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Ahmed Latheef sign an air-services agreement.

Hong Kong's 59th air-services agreement has been signed in Hong Kong with the Republic of Maldives, Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng says.

Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng and the  Maldives' Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Ahmed Latheef signed the agreement today.

It provides a legal framework for establishing air links between Hong Kong and the Maldives, which will boost tourism and contribute to economic development.

"It is in our mutual interest to establish direct air links between the two places. The signing of the agreement is in line with our policy of progressive liberalisation in air services between Hong Kong and our aviation partners," Ms Cheng said.