transferred to the Governor.
Discussions will need to take place
in due course with the Chinese over the localisation of the
legislation and Hong Kong hope to be able to retain control and operation of space activities after 1997. They considered that their case would be strengthened if they could demonstrate that the
Governor has always been in charge of regulating activities under
the Act as it applies to Hong Kong. BNSC are (reluctantly) prepared
to agree that the Governor should be the licensing authority under
the Act but have insisted that they should be responsible for
vetting the licence for ASIASAT. Hong Kong have agreed to this. They have also agreed that BNSC should discuss subsequent licensing machinery with Hong Kong with a view to ensuring that the licensing arrangements in Hong Kong will reflect the standards which BNSC apply in the UK.
6.
Given the urgency (the ASIASAT launch is now scheduled for
7 April) it is necessary for the Order in Council to enter into
force on the day it is made (14 March). The Order in Council is not subject to any parliamentary procedure.
IMLAAG
A D Watts