CONFIDENTIAL
056735
MDHIAN 8110
PROPOSAL
7. AS EXPLAINED ABOVE SOME CHANGES MUST BE MADE, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN AGREEING AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE LEAST DISRUPTION TO PRESENT PRACTICE. THIS WOULD AVOID POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE MODIFICATION TO RADIO EQUIPMENT, REPAINTING OF AIRCRAFT AND AMENDMENTS TO NUMEROUS LEGAL AND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES, WHICH WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT SHIPPING AND AIRCRAFT.
8. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THE VR MARK SHOULD IN FUTURE BE USED EXCLUSIVELY BY HONG KONG AND THAT ALL THE RADIO STATIONS SHOULD ADOPT THIS MARK. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTINUED USE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARK MOST COMMONLY USED BY LOCAL AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPING. APART FROM AVOIDING MAJOR DISRUPTION TO LOCALLY- REGISTERED SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD OFFER CONSIDERABLE CAPACITY FOR EXTENSIVE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL RADIO STATIONS IN HONG KONG WELL BEYOND 1997. ALTHOUGH HONG KONG USERS OF OTHER MARKS WOULD NEED TO CHANGE TO THIS MARK, THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO HAVE THE FURTHER ADVANTAGE OF NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTING OTHER ITU MEMBERS. HMG WOULD ENSURE THAT USERS IN OTHER TERRITORIES CURRENTLY SHARING THE VR MARK WOULD MOVE TO OTHER MARKS WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES ALLOCATED TO
THE UNITED KINGDOM.
9. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY AMEND ITS ITU
REGISTRATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE VR MARK TO: 'VRA-VRZ UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND (HONG KONG)'. THEREAFTER THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD INFORM THE
ITU THAT IT PROPOSED IN 1997 TO TRANSFER THIS SERIES TO THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. THE PRC COULD THEN REGISTER THE ASSIGNMENT AS 'VRA-VRZ PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CHONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION'.
10. WE BELIEVE THAT THE ABOVE PROCEDURE WOULD CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THE TRANSFER OF THE U K'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL CALL SIGNS TO THE PRC IN 1997, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MINIMISING DISRUPTION.
11. WE ESTIMATE THAT AN ORDERLY REASSIGNMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
CALL SIGNS COULD TAKE UP TO THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE, GIVEN A SUITABLE AGREEMENT. IT IS NECESSARY THEREFORE TO REACH AGREEMENT
ON THIS MATTER SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE 1997.
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