Amendments to strategic commodities control list gazetted
Friday, July 9, 1999

Legislative amendments to reflect the updated international controls on strategic commodities were gazetted today (Friday).

A spokesman for the Trade Department said the amendments aimed to reflect the revised control lists adopted by the various international control regimes namely the Wassenaar Arrangements, the Missile Technology Control Regimes and the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

The amendments are contained in the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 1999.

The Wassenaar Arrangement which controls the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, has relaxed the control threshold on the performance of computers, implemented decontrols on telecommunications equipment and updated the control on encryption. The Missile Technology Control Regime added a new control on titanium-stabilized duplex stainless steel and revised the controls on rocket propellants and navigation equipment. The Nuclear Suppliers Group decontrolled certain high speed oscilloscopes and transcient recorders.

The amendment Orders will be tabled at the Legislative Council on 14 July 1999. They will come into force at a date to be appointed by the Director-General of Trade by notice in the Government Gazette if the Legislative Council raises no objection to the amendments.

The import and export of strategic commodities are subject to licensing control by the Director-General of Trade.

"The purpose of licensing control is to monitor and control the flow of strategic commodities to ensure Hong Kong's access to high-technology products," said the spokesman.

He added that any person who imported or exported an article specified in the Schedules to the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations without a valid licence was liable to an unlimited fine and imprisonment for seven years if convicted.

Copies of the amendment Orders are available for sale at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, ground floor, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

Enquiries on the amendments can be made to the Strategic Commodities Section, Trade Department, 5th floor, Trade Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon or by telephone at 2398 5580 or 2398 5572.

The department will also inform traders of details of the amended Schedules by circular and seminar.