FIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 665
OF 221OOOZ FEBRUARY 904
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
23
CONFIDENTIAL
HKC031/9
1417
odka in su
RECEN VIRGOVSTORY
15 MAR 1990
YOUR TELNOS 381 AND 399: OUTER SPACE ACT 1986
171137 MDHIAN 8065
Panil 1913
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
1. IN EXTENDING THE UK ACT TO HONG KONG, WE SEE THE TRANSFER OF LICENSING AND REGULATIONS MAKING POWERS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO A HONG KONG AUTHORITY AS A NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL MODIFICATION. INDEED, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOW NORMAL PRACTICE TO TRANSFER SUCH POWERS TO HONG KONG WHEN UK ACTS ARE EXTENDED HERE. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ANY OTHER APPROACH WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL AUTONOMY WELL BEFORE 1997.
2.
3. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN THAT THE LICENSING BODY SHOULD HAVE APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SPECIALISED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. WE SHOULD BE PLEASED TO CONSULT BNSC AND SEEK THEIR ADVICE ON DETAILS OF PROCEDURES AND TECHNICALITIES OF SPACE OBJECTS. WE ARE FULLY PREPARED TO FORWARD ANY INFORMATION REQUIRED BY BNSC AND WE SHALL FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE CLOSELY. WE COULD ALSO SEND A TEAM TO MEET WITH BNSC IN LONDON TO WORK OUT DETAILS IF NECESSARY. ALL THIS COULD BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY IF YOU AGREE TO OUR PROPOSAL THAT THE FORMAL POWERS UNDER THE ACT SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO HONG KONG ON EXTENSION.
(35
4. WE HAVE STUDIED YOUR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS IN THE EXTENSION AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REVISED PROPOSAL WHICH IS BEING FAXED TO YOU SEPARATELY TODAY. THE MAJOR POINTS IN OUR PROPOSAL ARE:
(A) THE POWER TO GRANT LICENCES SHOULD BE CONFERRED ON THE GOVERNOR RATHER THAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO... 27(1)
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL