Dear Sirs,

Strategic Trade Controls Circular No.8/01

Termination of Sending Circulars on

Strategic Commodities Control System by Post

            Trade and Industry Department has launched a Strategic Commodities Control System Website (http://www.stc.tid.gov.hk) since April 2001. A circular (STC Circular No. 3/01) introducing the new website and providing guidance notes on the major features and services available from the website was issued on 31 March 2001. Traders who have visited the website may notice that information and reference materials related to the control of strategic commodities which are relevant to importers, exporters, manufacturers, carriers involved in the production, trade and transportation of strategic commodities have been placed on the website for reference and general information. Among such information include circulars issued by the Strategic Trade Controls Branch on the import/export licensing control of strategic commodities. We are pleased to note that so far feedback from traders on the website has been positive and many of our customers have already paid visits to look up relevant information on the website.

2.          Traders may notice the Government's effort in recent years to encourage all sectors of the community to use less paper for environmental protection reason. This initiative equally applies to Government Departments. Using less paper also means better utilization of public resources. In view that all circulars regarding the strategic commodities control system are already available on our website and traders could conveniently read and print such information from their own computer terminals, the Strategic Trade Controls Branch would, with effect from 1 November 2001, stop sending out by post paper copies of our circulars to individual traders. Copies of circulars, however, could still be obtained in person at the Integrated Customer Service Centre at Room 1324, 13/F., Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong.

3.          Traders may wish to know that a "Free Email Notification" service is provided in our Strategic Commodities Control System Website. By registering your email address and selecting the topics of your interests, we will be able to alert you by email whenever new circulars related to subjects of your choices are uploaded to the website.

4.          If traders have any questions with the new arrangement, they could contact Ms Stella So at tel no. 2398 5575 for assistance.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Angela Liu)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry