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The Government will table at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (November 23) the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2011.
"The purpose of the Order is to reflect the changes adopted in the strategic commodities control lists by relevant international non-proliferation regimes, i.e. the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group", a spokesperson for the Trade and Industry Department (TID) said.
Pursuant to Hong Kong Laws, the import and export of strategic commodities is subject to licensing control by the Director-General of Trade and Industry. The purpose of imposing licensing control is to monitor and control the flow of strategic commodities in order to maintain the confidence of technology supplying countries in Hong Kong's control system, thereby ensuring Hong Kong's continued access to high-technology.
"Hong Kong has been closely following the control thresholds adopted by the international non-proliferation regimes. This is to ensure that we would always be upholding controls consistent with international standards," the spokesperson said. "The Order, keeping Hong Kong's control list of strategic commodities updated, should be welcomed by traders as it would provide convenience and facilitation for local companies trading strategic commodities with major trading partners which are implementing the same control lists of the international non-proliferation regimes."
The Amendment Order was gazetted today (November 18) and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on November 23. The Order would come into force on a day to be appointed by the Director-General of Trade and Industry by a notice published in the Gazette later. Traders may visit the website of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (www.gov.hk) to access the Gazette.
Enquiries can be made to the Strategic Trade Controls Branch of the TID by telephone at 2398 5587 or by email at stc@tid.gov.hk.
The TID will also inform traders of the details of the amendments via circular and the general advisory service.
Ends/Friday, November 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:01
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