UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 165
OF 231029Z FEBRUARY 90
UNCLASSIFIED
39
175105
MDHOAN 3737
PM 3/2
ISTRY
HKC031.
RECEIVES
15 MAR 1998
D'SK OFF!
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
REGISTRY
MIPT: OUTER SPACE ACT/ASIASAT
1.
FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED PASSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN THE NOTE FROM THE EMBASSY TO THE MFA:
BEGINS: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND (HEREINAFTER KNOWN AS THE 'UNITED KINGDOM') NOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (HEREINAFTER KNOWN AS THE 'PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA') ACCEDED TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY SPACE OBJECTS 1972 (THE LIABILITY CONVENTION) IN LONDON ON 20 DECEMBER 1988 AND ACCEDED TO THE TREATY ON PRINCIPLES GOVERNING ACTIVITIES OF STATES IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE, INCLUDING THE MOON AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES 1967 (THE OUTER SPACE TREATY) IN LONDON ON 12 JANUARY 1984.
THE UNITED KINGDOM ALSO NOTE THE CHINA GREAT WALL INDUSTRY CORPORATION'S INTENTION TO LAUNCH THE ASIASAT SATELLITE FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON OR AROUND 7 APRIL 1990. THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE ASIA SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LTD THAT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AS A PARTY TO THE ABOVE CONVENTION AND TREATY, HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE LAUNCH TO OTHER STATES OR THEIR CITIZENS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD WISH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO CONFIRM THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES UNDERTAKEN INCLUDE RESPONSIBILITY, UNDER THE LIABILITY CONVENTION, THE OUTER SPACE TREATY AND ANY OTHER PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, FOR MEETING CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FROM OTHER STATES OR THEIR CITIZENS FOR ANY AND ALL DAMAGE ARISING DURING THE LAUNCH PHASE OF THE ASIASAT SATELLITE UNTIL THE SATELLITE HAS SEPARATED FROM THE LAUNCH VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL INDEMNIFY THE UNITED KINGDOM AGAINST ANY AND ALL SUCH CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE WHICH MAY BE MADE BY OTHER
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