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Space Travel

Writer's picture: Peter K F Cheung SBSPeter K F Cheung SBS
  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - DAY


  4. PETER is checking his emails.


  5. PETER (V.O.): Oh, a good friend of mine will talk about Space Law in a webinar.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 1987, I sat my Space Law exam in UCL. Later, I taught Space Law as one of the topics under International Law for a couple of years. And that was it.


  8. Pausing.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never refocused on the subject until recently when I talked about Communications Law.


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me register and learn my friend's perspective.


  12. After typing his particulars on the phone, Peter receives a confirmation email.


  13. Act 2


  14. INT. STUDY - DAY

  15. Taping a link on an iPad Mini, Peter joins a Zoom meeting. We see the MODERATOR (70s) and Peter's FRIEND (50s) talking.


  16. PETER (V.O.): Oh, the moderator starts off with Air Law. Yes, regimes between Air and Space are very different.


  17. Peter surfs with web with his phone.


  18. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Karman line, an altitude of 100 km above sea level, is treated as the start of outer space.


  19. On screen, Peter's FRIEND begins to present with slides.


  20. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, one fundamental legal principle is that the Moon and other celestial bodies are Common Province of Mankind (or res communis).


  21. Pausing.


  22. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Res communis is a Latin term. It's a legal concept derived from Roman Law in the 6th C.


  23. Pausing.


  24. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As Common Province of Mankind, a State placing its national flag on the Moon or other celestial bodies can't acquire title to them as a matter of Space Law.


  25. Pausing.


  26. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's interesting that ancient Roman's legal concept is still impacting on modern States' relationships on the Moon and other celestial bodies.


  27. Peter reads a screen slide.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Another fundamental legal principle is that the Moon and other celestial bodies are free for exploration by all States without discrimination.


  29. Pausing.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The fact is that only States having the space capacity can enjoy the free exploration.


  31. Pausing.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That private enterprises might have the capacity to explore and exploit the Moon and other celestial bodies wasn't foreseen in the Space Treaty 1967.


  33. Peter reads the next slide.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Space commercialization is gathering momentum. The number of participants and private investment capital have increased.


  35. Pausing.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Financial institutions in Hong Kong, China, might contribute on the financial front.


  37. Peter reads the next slide.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to space travel, I'm not interested even if I had the money. I don't even like riding on rollercoasters.


  39. On screen, Peter's Friend finishes his presentation. The Moderator begins to discuss with him. We hear the mentioning of: Prof Bin Cheng.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Prof. Bin Cheng taught me Air and Space Law in London.


  41. We hear the Moderator commenting on screen:...but he's passed away...


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, he died in 2019 at the age of 98.


  43. Recalling.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A Quroan has asked me whether I would want to be cremated when I'm gone.


  45. Recalling.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Cremation is my only choice. I've travelled on land, at sea and in air... And I've studied the laws of the land, the sea, the air and the space...


  47. Pausing


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm thinking of the options to scatter my ashes on land, at sea and in air. Would outer space become an option in due course?


  49. As the webinar ends, Peter responds to a questionnaire before taping the red icon "leave".


  50. Act 3


  51. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS


  52. Reflecting.


  53. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): There's life on Earth. I'm one of the instances.


  54. Thinking.


  55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But all living things on Earth have their origin from star dust.


  56. Thinking.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If my ashes wouldn't become undesirable space debris, it could be an option.


  58. Thinking.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That will be an amazing way for me to be back to nature.


  60. Peter smiles.


  61. FADE OUT.


  62. THE END


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