RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 262
OF 231709Z MARCH 90
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
164
RESTRICTED
HKC031/9
RECE
28 MAR 1990
INDS
CA
EGISTRY Action Taken
Pa
65
120162
MDLOAN 9835
NH 26/3
YOUR TELNO 441: ASIASAT
1.
THE CHINESE ARE CLEARLY UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A FORMAL RESPONSE UNTIL VERY SHORTLY BEFORE THE LAUNCH DATE. CAN WE BE SURE THAT THEIR RESPONSE WILL FULLY REFLECT OUR SUGGESTED WORDING.
2.
NOR
FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, BNSC HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO PURSUE A CONTINGENCY PLAN SO AS NOT TO DELAY THE LAUNCH. IN BRIEF, BNSC HAVE ASKED ASIASAT TO OBTAIN THIRD PARTY INSURANCE FROM THE MOMENT OF LAUNCH RATHER THAN
FROM THE MOMENT OF SATELLITE SEPARATION FROM THE LAUNCH VEHICLE. ASIASAT CAN AGREE TO THIS IN PRINCIPLE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE UNHAPPY THAT THIS MAY DUPLICATE COVER ON LIABILITIES WHICH THE PRC MAY SUBSEQUENTLY ACCEPT. IF THE PRC DO GIVE A RESPONSE PRIOR TO LAUNCH, EITHER IN FULL OR PART ACCEPTANCE OF LIABILITY, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE EXTENDED INSURANCE POLICY TO OMIT ANY LIABILITIES ACCEPTED BY THE PRC. WITH SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT THE LAUNCH NEED NOT BE POSTPONED AND HMG'S POSITION WILL BE PROTECTED.
3. NEVERTHELESS IT REMAINS IN OUR INTEREST TO PRESS FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MFA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT WILL ENABLE US TO AGREE THE FINAL INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASIASAT AND WILL GIVE AN INDICATION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PRC'S ATTITUDE TO LIABILITY ISSUES. PLEASE PROTECT THE ABOVE, UNLESS THE MFA SUGGEST THEMSELVES THAT THEY WISH TO DELAY LAUNCH UNTIL THE LIABILITY
ISSUES ARE RESOLVED.
HURD
YYYY
1
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