Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 3/2010
Amendment of Schedule 1 and 2 to the
Import & Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations
- Invitation to Seminars

Background

Hong Kong's control list for strategic commodities, as set out in Schedule 1 to the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations ("the Regulations"), mirrors those of the international non-proliferation regimes (viz. the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, etc.). The Schedule is under regular review and, where appropriate, is amended to reflect the latest revisions adopted by the regimes in their respective control lists.

2. Schedule 2 to the Regulations sets out those "more sensitive" products covered in Schedule 1, including certain munitions, all nuclear-related materials and equipment, and information security products (commonly known as encryption devices). They are subject to tighter control over transit and air-transhipment under section 2 of the Regulations.

The Amendment

3. The trade has been notified vide Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 2/2010 that the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 2010 ("the Order") has been prepared to reflect the recent revisions adopted by Wassenaar Arrangement to some commonly traded strategic commodities (i.e. electronics, computers, and telecommunications and information security products) up to end-2009. The Order also amends Schedule 2 to the Regulations to relax the control over transit and air-transshipment of information security products by removing such items from the Schedule. A summary of the major revisions covered by the Order is enclosed in the Annex of the aforesaid circular.

Effective Date of the Order

4. The Order was gazetted on 30 April 2010 and tabled at the Legislative Council on 5 May 2010. Once the legal procedure is completed, the Order will come into effect on a day to be appointed by the Director-General of Trade and Industry by a notice published in the Gazette. A separate circular will be issued in due course to inform traders of the effective date of the Order.

Seminars

5. To facilitate our trade to have a better understanding on the upcoming changes to the control list, we will arrange two sessions of seminars, conducted in Chinese , to be held on 11 June 2010.
   
   
6. You are cordially invited to attend one of these seminars. Owing to the limited seats available, please nominate for your company one representative who is involved in the handling of import/export licence applications covering strategic commodities. Please make prior reservation by completing the reservation form in Annex and fax it to 3525 1526 on or before 1 June 2010 (Tuesday). We will contact you by phone to confirm your reservation. In case you do not receive our confirmation one day before the seminars, please contact Ms Cynthia Liu at telephone no. 2398 5626 for follow up.

Enquiry

7. For any further enquiries about the revisions brought about by the Order, please contact our Classification Section at 2398 5587. For other licensing matters, please contact our Licensing Section at 2398 5575.

Strategic Trade Controls Branch
Trade and Industry Department