Your Ref
****:
Our Ref
本局幟號:
(50) in L/M T 41/92
PMG R 25/2 IX
OFTA
Mr. Neil McMillan
Telecommunications and Posts Division 2
Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 98S
United Kingdom
Dear Mr. McMillan,
BY FRA
Telephone
8
M: +852 852 9668
Fax No
20
+852 541 9058
12 August 1993
Licensing of APSTAR Satellites
under Outer Space Act 1986
We have received an application from APT Satellite Company Limited (APT) for a licence under the Outer Space Act 1986 as extended to Hong Kong (the Act) to launch and operate telecommunication satellites called APSTAR-1 and APSTAR-2. We would like to consult you regarding certain questions in the application of the Act and seek your views on the proposed arrangement for licensing of the APSTAR satellites under the Act.
APT is a private company incorporated under the law of Hong Kong. Its shareholders comprise two companies incorporated in Hong Kong and two corporations established and owned by the Ministry of Aerospace Industry and Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China. APT intends to set up a satellite communication network to cater for the Asia Pacific market. An order was placed in May 1992 with the Hughes Aircraft for the supply of the satellite for APSTAR-1. The scheduled launching date of APSTAR-1 is in June 1994. APT also plans to purchase a second satellite for launch in mid-1995. The head office and the telemetry, tracking, command and monitoring stations of APT will be established in Hong Kong. Furthermore, APT intends to register their satellites in the UN under the Convention on Registration of Objects launched into Outer Space 1975 through China rather than through the UK. This proposal gives rise to the problem explained below.
As APT is a company incorporated in Hong Kong, its activities will be subject to the regulation under the Act. We need to examine whether the Act
permits APT to launch, procure the launch of and operate satellites registered with
Office of the Telecommunications Authority
5/F & 19/F, Wing Shan Tower, 173 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
電訊管理局
香港德輔道中173號榮山大廈六樓及一十製