Eight years ago, talks on a civil aviation agreement between Hong Kong and Taiwan once became deadlocked when the two sides disputed whether government officials should sit in on the negotiations. At that time, Hong Kong was still an important transit hub for air passengers between the mainland and Taiwan.
But now, with the hostile political atmosphere gone, a friendly talk is expected when the two places launch their new round of civil aviation negotiations by June through a new communication channel. Yet with direct flights across the Taiwan Strait now, Hong Kong's role as a middleman is fading.
Despite frequent exchanges at civil level, the official relationship between the two 'little dragons' in Asia is often complex, following the rises and falls in cross-strait ties. In a breakthrough in Hong Kong-Taiwan links, the local Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) was set up this month, and will be a representative body in talks with its Taiwanese counterpart, the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (ECCC), which will be formally launched in the middle of May.
'I won't be overoptimistic to say we don't have to worry at all. Nothing is easy. If we do it, we have a chance to succeed, but if we don't, we won't ever succeed,' said David Lie Tai-chong, a vice-chairman of the ECCPC who also heads its Business Co-operation Committee.
The newly created platform is largely modelled on the existing mechanism for mainland-Taiwan talks, often known as the 'white glove' policy. The two councils, both with participation by high-ranking ministers, are incorporated as legal entities but will be authorised by the two governments to sign pacts.
Lie said he expected some trial and error. 'My goal for my two-year term as the Business Co-operation Committee chairman is to build a foundation for collaborations.'
Taiwan is Hong Kong's fourth largest trading partner. As a businessman with extensive networks both on the mainland and in Taiwan, Lie said his committee would have to identify the industries in which the two places would gain advantages if they co-operated. 'The relationship between Hong Kong and Taiwan is not so much about politics. Instead, we should seek to do things which are mutually beneficial.'