CONFIDENTIAL

HKC031/4

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 532

OF 091245Z MARCH 90

RECEIVE

12 MAR 1996

DESK OFFIC

DEX

110/31

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

LIST ?

вок

-31,

047142

MDHOAN 4739

виро

YOUR TELNO 832: 0UTER SPACE ACT 1986

1.

A COPY OF THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL HAS BEEN FAXED TO MS WONG (ESB). THE DRAFT LICENCE WILL BE SENT WHEN AVAILABLE. 2.

THE UK LICENCE FEE IS A ONE-OFF CHARGE AND BNSC HAS NO ANNUAL FEE ARRANGEMENT. THE LICENCE FEE SET AT THE TIME THE ACT CAME INTO FORCE IN THE UK WAS INTENDED TO COVER SOME OF THE COSTS OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION. EXPERIENCE OF LICENSING SO FAR INDICATES THE FEE IS SET TOO LOW. BNSC INTEND TO INCREASE THE FEE AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME IN THE FUTURE BUT EXACT CALCULATIONS HAVE YET TO BE MADE.

3. CONCERNING THE VISIT OF A SENIOR OFFICIAL TO BNSC, THEY WOULD SUGGEST 29/3U MARCH TO 3/4 APRIL. IF THESE DATES ARE

INCONVENIENT, THE NEXT SUITABLE PERIOD WOULD BE LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY. THE LATER DATES WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO BNSC AS THEY MAY HAVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES TO RESOLVE WITH ASIASAT IN LATE MARCH, AMONG OTHER COMMITMENTS.

4.

CONDITION III OF YOUR TELNO 446, BNSC ARE CONTENT

TO PROCEED ON AN INFORMAL BASIS AND WOULD HOPE TO REACH AGREEMENT FAIRLY QUICKLY. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE ASSURANCES PROVIDED TO DTI MINISTERS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE LICENSING REGIME TO BE OPERATED BY HONG KONG IS COMPARABLE TO THAT IN THE

UK.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

57

LIMITED

HKD

SEND

DISTRIBUTION

59

PAGE

HD/FED

RESEARCH (FE)

MR GILLMORE

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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