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The Government will table at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (February 4) the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2015.
"The purpose of the Order is to reflect the changes to the control lists of strategic commodities adopted by some international non-proliferation regimes which have come into effect since the last amendment of Schedule 1 in 2013," a spokesperson for the Trade and Industry Department (TID) said.
These changes generally reflect the ongoing relaxation of control on strategic commodities which are mainly used for industrial purposes but which can also be applied to military uses (e.g. certain electronic recording equipment and digital computers), while imposing control on more sensitive items (e.g. certain equipment related to intrusion software). Trading activities of those items being added to the control list are insignificant in Hong Kong.
"Traders should welcome the enactment of the Order as they will no longer have to apply for import and export licences for trading relevant commodities," the spokesperson 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 systems, thereby ensuring Hong Kong's continued access to high technology.
"Hong Kong has been closely following the control thresholds adopted by the international regimes. This is to ensure that we would always be upholding controls consistent with the international standards, whilst relieving traders from licensing requirements when the international standards are relaxed," the spokesperson said.
The Amendment Order was gazetted today (January 30) and will be tabled at the Legislative Council on February 4. 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 access the Gazette online (www.gld.gov.hk/egazette).
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 a trade circular and through its web portal.
Ends/Friday, January 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:45
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