TNAG-2109-FCO40-3008-Outer-Space-Act-1986-extension-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 397

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

114350

MDHIAN 567

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

6. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE EXTENT OF THE HMG'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE FOUR CONVENTIONS, BEARING IN MIND THE PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE ASIASAT CASE (I.E THAT ALTHOUGH ASIASAT IS INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG, THE LAUNCHING IS TO TAKE PLACE IN CHINA: THEREFORE IS IT NOT REASONABLE TO ARGUE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE 1972 LIABILITY CONVENTION, ARTICLE 1, AND THE 1975 REGISTRATION CONVENTION, ARTICLE 1, CHINA IS A ''LAUNCHING STATE''?).

7. THE INFORMATION SOUGHT IN PARA 5 OF YOUR TELNO 113 IS AS FOLLOWS:

(A) ASIASAT ARE AWARE THAT A LICENCE WILL BE REQUIRED. THEY ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THE UK OUTER SPACE ACT DOES NOT APPLY TO HONG KONG REGISTERED COMPANIES, THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS DRAFTING LOCAL LEGISLATION TO REGULATE ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE LAUNCHING AND OPERATION OF SPACE OBJECTS BY SUCH COMPANIES, AND THAT THEY WILL NEED TO OBTAIN A LICENCE FOR THEIR SATELLITE ONCE LOCAL LEGISLATION IS ENACTED.

(B) WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY UK SECURITY PLAN WHICH MIGHT HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ASIASAT'S LAUNCH DATE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION.

(C) ASIASAT WILL CONTROL AND OPERATE THE SATELLITE.

(D) ASIASAT OWNS THE SATELLITE. THE COMPANY IS REGISTERED UNDER THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE OF HONG KONG AND IS OWNED IN EQUAL (I.E. 1/3) SHARES BY CABLE AND WIRELESS PLC, HUTCHISON

TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD AND CHINA INTERNATIONAL TRUST AND INVESTMENT CORPORATION (CITIC). ASIASAT'S REGISTERED PLACE OF BUSINESS IS IN HONG KONG.

(E), (F), (J) AND (K) MR TONY WONG OF HK POST OFFICE WILL BRING THE INFORMATION WITH HIM TO LONDON FOR THE MEETING WITH YOU ON 9 FEB AT 10:00 A.M. IN MR M. GODDARD'S OFFICE, RADIO DIVISION OF DTI WATERLOO BRIDGE HOUSE.

(G) WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION OF WHAT REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE IN MIND FOR SAFETY AND DAMAGE ARRANGEMENTS. MR TONY WONG WILL WISH TO DISCUSS THIS AT THE MEETING ON 9 FEB.

(H) THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENCIES OF ASIASAT'S SATELLITE ARE WITH

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