IDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 691
OF 23103OZ FEBRUARY 90.
IND
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKC031/9
RECER
15 MAR 1990
preko
PA..
YOUR TELNO 412: OUTER SPACE ACT 1986.
TOP COPY DIST ?
aken
(37)
175034
MDHIAN 8324
fa Pa at 14/3
1. WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU AND BNSC AGREE IN PRINCIPLE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LICENSING AND MAKING REGULATIONS. WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON A COMPROMISE SOLUTION TO DEAL WITH THE URGENT NEEDS OF ASIASAT.
SINCE BNSC HAVE ALREADY BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RELEVANT PEOPLE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY IF BNSC COULD CONTINUE TO PROCESS THE ASIASAT APPLICATION. THEIR WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE COULD BE FULLY UTILISED IN THE LICENSING PROCESS. HOWEVER, WHEN ALL LICENSING DETAILS HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF BNSC COULD PASS THE LICENCE TO HONG FOR FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN AND ISSUE, INSTEAD OF SUBMITTING IT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
3.
THIS APPROACH WOULD ALLEVIATE BNSC'S CONCERN ABOUT THE LACK OF TIME FOR HONG KONG TO SET UP THE NECESSARY APPARATUS BEFORE THE LAUNCH DATE. BNSC WOULD BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY WOULD BE IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WERE TO ISSUE THE LICENCE
4
5.
IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST OPTION IS TO EXTEND THE ACT TO HONG KONG WITH OUR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS. WE ARE PREPARED TO RELY ON BNSC TO TAKE ASIASAT THROUGH THE LICENSING PROCEDURES. THE FINAL PACKAGE AS PREPARED BY BNSC COULD THEN BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
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