TNAG-2109-FCO40-3008-Outer-Space-Act-1986-extension-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 352

ZCZC

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELNO

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

OUTER SPACE ACT 1986: ASIASAT

IMMEDIATE

1. We have been copying to you correspondence (Cresting with FCO telno 381 to Hong Kong) about arrangements for the Launch of the ASIASAT satellite from China in April. We now need to conclude a bilateral agreement with the Chinese which will protect our position on the question of liability under the UN Liability Convention if any damage is caused to third parties

during the launch phase. (Because Asiasat is a Hong Kong registered company the UK would otherwise share liability as a joint launcher state under Article V of the Liability

Convention).

2.

The PRC signed an Agreement (MOU) with the US in 1988 under which they accepted full liability for any claims against the US arising from the launches of the AUSSAT and ASIASAT satellites. The China Great Wall Industry Corporation has recently confirmed to Asiasat that the Chinese government is ready to accept full liability for all damage caused to third

parties

RN2AAT

SEND

RJ NORTHERN

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