BNSC
CONFIDENTIAL
S R Bonde Esq
Environment Science and Energy Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
Our Ref: PK/8/3/16
24 December 1991
Dear
Stevins
ASIASAT
You asked for advise on Hong Kong te1ño 3716.
་
The main points to be made are:
2.-
a)
b)
the Outer Space Act 1986 was enacted to enable HMG to meet its commitments under the UN Conventions and to protect itself against claims for damages from third parties resulting from private
-
sector actitites in space. Although the issue of licences has been devolved upon the Governor, it is HMG that remains liable under the International Conventions and it is BNSC's responsibility to provide the Governor with such assistance as is necessary to enable us to discharge this function to HMG's satisfaction.
there is no international requirement to operate this particular type of licensing regime. It is a UK solution and, so far as I am aware, it is unique. The US operates a licensing system limited to the launch of Satellites but no country apart from the UK appears to license the operation of satellites in space or other activities unrelated to the launch. Consequently, the legislative basis for the present Hong Kong licencing regime will terminate in 1997 and a new regime would only be necessary if the Chinese Government decides to adopt a similar solution and enacts such legislation as may be necessary to put this into effect. If it does, it must inevitably be concerned with the licensing policy, the aim of which would be to
to safeguard its position under international law.
A:ASIASAT2
BRITISH NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE Dean Bradley House
52 Horseferry Road London SW1P 2AG
Telex 297121~ Ansaback OT FAIR G~
Telephone (Direct Dialling) 071 276
Fax 071 821 5387 (Enquiries) 071 276 2688