TNAG-2148-FCO40-3067-Communication-systems-allocation-of-call-signs-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 28

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RESTRICTED

RECE

FM FCO

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(24)

171250

MDLOAN 6181

HKC193

5/9

11 SEP 1990

Pru

TOP CORY

10/4.Q DIST?

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1666

OF 07160OZ SEPTEMBER 90

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

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FROM HKD

MY TELNO 118 (TO HONG KONG ONLY): ALLOCATION OF CALL SIGNS

1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN HAMLITON TELNO 135' AND GRAND TURK 140. WELLINGTON HAVE ALSO RESPONDED: ALTHOUGH THEY ACCEPT

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THAT THE INTERESTS OF A SMALL NUMBER OF PITCAIRN RADIO OPERATORS SHOULD NOT OUTWEIGH THE ARGUMENTS IN TUR, THEY PREDICT RESISTENCE TO REALLOCATION. THEY CONSIDER THAT, IF PITCAIRNS' CALL SIGNS ARE TO CHANGE, THEN (A) ADEQUATE NOTICE SHOULD BE GIVEN (4-5 YEARS) AND (B) THE OPERATORS CONCERNED SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPRINTED QSL CARDS. ALTHOUGH THE SUM INVOLVED WOULD NOT BE GREAT, WELLINGTON DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THIS SHOULD BE MET FROM THE PITCAIRNS' SMALL BUDGET.

2.

THE MAIN DIFFICULTY WOULD SEEM TO BE BERMUDA'S OBJECTIONS. WE ARE SEEKING OTHER DEPARTMENTS' VIEWS ON GOING BACK TO BERMUDA WITH THE OFFER OF SOME COMPROMISE (WHICH MAY NEED TO USE YOUR FALL BACK POSITION OF ALLOCATING THE VR SERIES ONLY TO HONG KONG). IN DOING SO, WE WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THE EXTENT OF DISRUPTION TO HONG KONG WHICH WOULD BE ENTAILED BY THE OPTION IN PARA 5 OF HAMILTON TELNO 135.

3.

BEFORE DOING SO, WE SHALL NEED TO CLARIFY THE REFERENCE IN PARA 2 OF HAMILTON TELNO 135: THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAD HEARD OF THIS EXCHANGE AND OF THE UNDERTAKING APPARENTLY GIVEN BY DTI REPRESENTATIVES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SUBJECT IN THE DTI IS ON LEAVE UNTIL 25 SEPTEMBER. (GIVEN THE SPECIALIST NATURE OF THIS SUBJECT, THERE IS NO-ONE DEPUTISING FOR HIM). WE REGRET, THEREFORE, THAT WE SHALL BE UNABLE TO PUT A PAPER TO THE CHINESE BEFORE JLG XVI. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE. WE SHALL STILL BE AIMING TO RESOLVE THESE DIFFICULTIES SO THAT WE CAN PUT A PAPER TO THE CHINESE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE JLG XVII, GIVING THEM TIME TO COMMENT AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND.

WE SHALL REVERT AS SOON AS WE ARE IN A POSITION TO TAKE THE SUBJECT FORWARD.

4.

1

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Minute now issued.

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