Taiwan says Hong Kong warned off flight to Taiwan-controlled island

TAIPEI, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Hong Kong air traffic controllers
on Thursday warned off a Taiwanese civilian flight flying to
Taiwan-controlled islands in the South China Sea, forcing it to
turn back, the island's government said.
The incident, which comes at a time of rising regional
tensions, occurred as a UNI Air charter flight from southern
Taiwan's Kaohsiung to the Pratas Islands was approaching Hong
Kong's flight information region, Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics
Administration said.
Hong Kong air traffic controllers told the captain there
were "dangerous activities" happening below 26,000 feet and the
aircraft could not enter, so for safety reasons he decided to
turn back, the administration said in a statement.
Hong Kong had not issued a prior notice warning of
activities that could affect flights, it added.
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
The weekly charter flights to the Pratas mostly carry Taiwan
government and coastguard personnel and are not open for
ordinary travellers to book.
The Pratas lie southeast of Hong Kong at the northern end of
the South China Sea, and normally get far less attention than
the more contested waters further south near the Paracel and
Spratly Islands.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory,
has stepped up military activities near Taiwan, including drills
and regular air force missions close to the Pratas, which are
only lightly defended by Taiwan.
The Pratas, the closest Taiwan-controlled territory to Hong
Kong, have taken on extra significance since anti-government
protests began in the Chinese-run city.
Taiwan has intercepted at least one boat close to the Pratas
carrying people fleeing from Hong Kong trying to make their way
to Taiwan. Some Taiwanese officials have expressed concerns that China
could seize the Pratas, in a drastic escalation of tensions that
could lead to a war.