TNAG-1926-FCO40-2742-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group-sub-gro-1989 — Page 17

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to all areas

The "space segment" is defined

satellites, and the tracking, telemetry, command, control,

monitoring and related facilities and equipment required

to support the operation of these satellites" (Agreement,

Article I(h)).

of the world" (Agreement, Article III(a)).

"the telecommunications

3.

A "Party" to the Agreement must be a State

(Agreement, Article I(f)). A "Signatory" to the Operating

Agreement must either be a Party or the telecommunications

entity designated by a Party (Agreement, Article I(g)).

4.

The United Kingdom is a Party to the Agreement.

Its instrument of ratification was deposited on 16

February 1972. The Agreement contains no territorial

application provisions, and accordingly the Agreement

applies to Hong Kong by virtue of the United Kingdom's

ratification. The UK originally designated the British

Post Office as its Signatory to the Operating Agreement in

accordance with Article II (b) of the Agreement. The

British Post Office later withdrew in accordance with

Article XVI (a) of the Agreement, and the UK designated

British Telecommunications plc (BT) as the UK Signatory in

accordance with Article XVI (f) of the Agreement.

A copy

of the designation is at Annex A. The People's Republic

of China (PRC) is also a party to the Agreement. The

Signatory of the PRC

is

the

Ministry of Posts and

Telecommunications.