TNAG-2148-FCO40-3067-Communication-systems-allocation-of-call-signs-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 24

UNCLASSIFIED

IMMEDIATE

brackets grateful if DTI could provide figures]ctose square

series

brackets. Secondly, Hong Kong needs to have exclusive use of a call sign (the Chinese are likely to object if Hong Kong continues to share call signs with other UK dependent territories post 1997). Given that the UK still has spare capacity on many call signs already allocated By the ITU, the ITU are unlikely to allocate another to

There is considerable pressure from other users for increases incalt signs allocated to them, given the rapid recent development of telecommunications.

3

We have also looked at your difficulties with our proposals. These seem to fall into two categories: the disruption involved

in changing any call signs: and the political difficulty with the radio stations in changing the VS series. It would appear that the latter is the more serious problem.

4. We should like to propose a compromise solution which aims

all to cause minimum disruption to all parties. We should be

grateful for your and Hong Kong's views. Our proposal is that you should keep the VS series and that the VR series should be allocated exclusively to Hong Kong. You would then be allocated a new series by DTI from among the series already allocated to us by the ITU. The features of this compromise are:

a) you would not need to tackle your difficulties with the VSB radio and TV stations.

b) you would be involved in the bureaucratic changes outlined in para 3 of your TUR.

c) Hong Kong would also face considerable disruption: allocation of the VR series only would require over 2000