US agency criticises Hong Kong air carrier quarantine rules

The US Transportation Department warned it could limit flights by carriers based in Hong Kong after the Asian financial hub imposed quarantine rules that have impacted US cargo carrier FedEx Corp. The department issued an order on Tuesday requiring Cathay Pacific to file flight schedules for all US flights within seven days to determine if any are "contrary to applicable law or adversely affect the public interest." Hong Kong in January issued new rules requiring that locally-based air crews observe quarantine when returning to Hong Kong from international locations, but exempted flights between Hong Kong and Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city. The order was issued in reaction to Hong Kong's quarantine restrictions that exclusively benefit Hong Kong carriers and "impaired the operating rights of US carriers," USDOT said.<br/>