TNAG-2109-FCO40-3008-Outer-Space-Act-1986-extension-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 347

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