The Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1999

Wireless telegraphy, postal service and telecommunication systems

7.—(1) The establishment or use of a station for wireless telegraphy, and the installation or use of any apparatus for wireless telegraphy, by—

(a) a member of a visiting force or any person working in support of such a force, or

(b) a member of a headquarters,

if done in the course of his duties as such, shall be exempt from the operation of Part I of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949(1) (which provides for the licensing etc. of wireless telegraphy).

(2) Section 10 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (which is concerned with regulating the radiation of electro-magnetic energy from apparatus), and any regulations made thereunder, shall not apply to the use of any apparatus by a member of a visiting force or headquarters, if done in the course of his duties as such.

(3) Section 66 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981(2) (which confers on the Post Office the exclusive privilege of conveying etc. letters in the United Kingdom) shall not have effect to prohibit a visiting force or headquarters from conveying letters from one place to another in the United Kingdom, or from performing the incidental services of receiving, collecting and delivering letters in the United Kingdom.

(4) The running of a telecommunications system by a visiting force or headquarters for service purposes shall be exempt from the operation of Part II of the Telecommunications Act 1984(3) (which provides for the licensing etc. of telecommunications systems).

(5) The provisions of this article shall only have effect in relation to a visiting force or headquarters, or a member of such a force or headquarters, or a person working in support of such a force, to the extent provided by an agreement for the time being in force made by or on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom with (as the case may be)—

(a) the Government or the service authorities of the country to which the visiting force belongs, or

(b) the headquarters.

(6) Where a provision of this article has effect by virtue of such an agreement, it shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified in the agreement.

(7) In this article, “service purposes” means naval, military or air force purposes.

(1)

1949 c. 54.

(2)

1981 c. 38.

(3)

1984 c. 12