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24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref. : TRA CR 1006/8
15 September 2006
TRADE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS (LIBERIA) REGULATION 2005
(AMENDMENT) (NO.2) REGULATION 2006
This is to announce for general information that on 15 September 2006 the Government gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Liberia) Regulation 2005 (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2006 (L.N. 188 of 2006).
- This Regulation, made under section 3 of the United Nations Sanctions Ordinance (Cap. 537), is to give effect to the decisions of the Security Council of the United Nations (UN) in Resolution 1683 of 13 June 2006 and Resolution 1689 of 20 June 2006. The Regulation :
- renews the prohibition against importation of rough diamonds directly or indirectly from Liberia into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for an additional six months until the midnight of 19 December 2006; and
- adds new provisions to the effect that the prohibition against supply and delivery of arms and related material to Liberia, the prohibition against carriage of arms and related material destined for Liberia as well as the prohibition against provision of technical assistance or training related to the supply, delivery, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related material to a person connected with Liberia, as imposed by paragraph 2(a) and (b) of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1521 (highlighted in paragraph 3 below), shall not apply to weapons or ammunition, as approved in advance on a case-by-case basis by the relevant UN Authority as set out in UNSCR 1683, intended for use by members of the Liberian police and security forces who have been vetted and trained since the inception of the UN Missions in Liberia ("UNMIL") in October 2003.
BACKGROUND
- UNSCR 1521, adopted in December 2003, imposed among others sanctions to prohibit the importation of rough diamonds directly or indirectly from Liberia, the supply and delivery of arms and related material, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, military equipment and paramilitary equipment, and any component for the aforementioned, to Liberia, and carriage of such goods destined for Liberia, except for those arms and related material
- intended solely for support of or use by the UNMIL, or in an international training and reform programme for the Liberian armed forces and police that has been approved in advance by the relevant UN Authority;
- that are non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use that has been approved in advance by the relevant UN Authority; or
- that are protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, to be temporarily exported to Liberia by the personnel of the UN, representatives of the media, humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only.
The same UNSCR also imposed prohibition against provision of technical assistance or training related to the supply, delivery, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related material, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, military equipment and paramilitary equipment, and any component for the aforementioned, to a person connected with Liberia, except for those prohibited goods under paragraph 3 (a) - (b) above. These measures were subsequently renewed and the renewed measures, with the exception of the sanction against importation of rough diamonds which expired at midnight on 19 June 2006, shall expire at midnight on 19 December 2006. UNSCR 1689 renews the sanction on rough diamonds for six months while UNSCR 1683 sets out the latest UN's decision regarding non-application of the aforementioned sanctions (other than the sanction related to rough diamonds).
WARNING
- Contravention to the prohibitions imposed by the Regulation attracts substantial penalties which may amount in some cases to imprisonment for 7 years and/or a fine.
IMPORTANT NOTE
- This circular is NOT a statement of the Laws of Hong Kong and has NO legal status. Anyone interested in the Regulation should refer to the Government Gazette for details. The prohibitions in the Regulation will apply to any person and company/registered business irrespective of and notwithstanding the possession of valid licences issued by the Director?General of Trade and Industry under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60) and its subsidiary legislation and other Enactments.
ENQUIRIES
- Enquiries concerning this circular can be directed to Miss Judy TING at tel. no. 2398 5766.
(Miss Susanna SUEN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note : While every endeavour has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.
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Electronic services for Production Notification and Certificate of Origin enable traders to make the relevant applications directly through their office computer faster and easier. Electronic service has now been extended to the submission of Cargo Manifests and Textiles Notifications. For details and enquiries,
please call the following service providers:
Global e-Trading Services Limited (Tel. : 8109 1820)
Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited (Tel. : 2599 1700) |
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