The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with its Singapore counterpart to expand mutual aircraft, engine and component maintenance, according to the Hong Kong Information Services Department.

The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) signed the Memorandum of Understanding, known as "Technical Arrangement on Aviation Maintenance", in Singapore.

As an extension of the MOU signed by both parties in 2004, the new agreement expands the scope of mutual recognition of approvals of maintenance organizations to cover all aircraft, engine and component maintenance. It allows maintenance organizations in Hong Kong to maintain aircraft registered in Singapore without seeking additional approval from CAAS, and maintenance organizations in Singapore may maintain aircraft registered in Hong Kong without separate approval from CAD.

Speaking in Singapore on Friday, CAD Director-General Norman Lo said mutual recognition would reduce duplication of approvals and auditing activities, maximizing the resource utilization of both regulators and industry partners.

Lo said the use of common airworthiness standards would improve aircraft maintenance quality.

Hong Kong has had similar mutual recognition arrangements on aircraft maintenance with Canada since 2005 and will continue to extend the mutual recognition arrangement to other overseas regulatory authorities.