CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 832
OF 06100OZ MARCH 90
INFO PRIORITY REKING
30
CONFIDENTIAL
HKC031/9
RECEIVED REGISTRY
· 6 MAR 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
YRTELNO 497: OUTER SPACE ACT 1986
PA
Am
RECISTRY
Action Taken
Bi
031450
MDHIAN 9806
See (5,
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE DRAFT LICENCE FOR ASIASAT. PLEASE SEND THE DRAFT TO MS S WONG OF ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH ON FAX NUMBER (852) 868 4679.
2. WE ARE INDEED AWARE THAT A FEE SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE LICENCE AND ARE CONSIDERING THE MECHANISM TO DO SO. IN THIS CONNECTION, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD SEE THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL WHICH YOU SENT OUT FOR PRINTING ON 28 FEBRUARY. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD FAX A COPY TO MS WONG. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW FOR REFERENCE WHETHER THE LICENCE FEE OF POUNDS 1,000 IS A ONE-OFF CHARGE OR WHETHER THE LICENSEE IS REQUIRED TO PAY AN ANNUAL FEE AS WELL UNDER THE U K LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS. IN HONG KONG, IT IS USUAL FOR AN ANNUAL FEE TO BE LEVIED IN ADDITION TO A FEE ON THE GRANTING OF A LICENCE.
3. CONCERNING THE VISIT OF A TEAM TO THE U K, IT APPEARS THAT YRTUR CROSSED WITH MR ASK WONG'S LETTER OF 5 MARCH TO BNSC COPIED TO YOU. WE AGREE THAT AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES SURROUNDING THE LICENSING OF THE ASIASAT SATELLITE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH FIRST. DISCUSSIONS ON THE SETTING UP OF A HONG KONG LICENSING
REGIME COULD TAKE PLACE TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH.
4. REGARDING CONDITION III OF YRTELNO 446, WHAT WE MEANT WAS WE WERE FULLY PREPARED TO DISCUSS WITH BNSC OUR PROPOSED LICENSING PROCEDURES. BNSC COULD REST ASSURED THAT THEIR ADVICE WOULD BE FULLY TAKEN ON BOARD AND THAT THE LICENSING REGIME IN HONG KONG WOULD BE COMPARABLE TO THAT IN THE UK. BUT IF WE HAD TO SUBMIT OUR PROPOSAL TO BNSC FOR FORMAL APPROVAL, THIS MIGHT CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR US ON LOCALISATION IN DUE COURSE. IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IF WE COULD AGREE THE PROPOSED LICENSING PROCEDURES WITH
BNSC ON AN INFORMAL BASIS.
WILSON
འ
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