Sheep Guts
Well they did with the US/UK open skies agreement. They found that the UK couldn't negotiate on its own because it was part of the EU jurisdiction. HK is very well within its rights to protect itself and its carriers from dumping if the EU determines that the bilateral agreement between the UK/HK is illegal or worse says that what applies to the UK applies to the whole of the EU. As I have said I have no problem with Virgin Atlantic operating to Australia via Hong Kong. The route definitely needs competition. But I draw the line at the whole of the EU operating the route. Like any free market there is an optimum point where competition is just right. Consumers get what they are looking for and the airlines can make a profit. Too much and the whole lot falls in a heap. This is what would happen if the EU were able to operate through HK to Australia or any other destination without restriction.