The Import & Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2004 will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 5, to reflect the updated international controls on strategic commodities.

The more significant changes include the relaxation of the control threshold of computers from the current 28,000 million theoretical operations per second to 190,000 Mtops and the removal of control over general-purpose microprocessors.

A welcome amendment

Traders will welcome the amendment as it relieves them of the burden of applying for import and export licences for microprocessors and most commonly available computers, the Trade & Industry Department said.

The amendments aim to reflect the revised control lists adopted by the various international control regimes, i.e. the Wassenaar Arrangement, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group and Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Under Hong Kong's legislative framework, the import and export of strategic commodities are subject to licensing control by the Director-General of Trade & Industry.

Ensuring access to technology

The purpose of imposing licensing control is to monitor the flow of strategic commodities to maintain the confidence of technology-supplying countries in our control system, thereby ensuring Hong Kong's continued access to high-technology.

Anyone who imports or exports an article specified in the Schedules to the Import & Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations without a valid licence is liable to an unlimited fine and seven years prison. The goods will also be forfeited.

The Amendment Order was gazetted today. It will come into force on a day to be appointed by the Director-General of Trade & Industry by notice in the Gazette. Traders can visit this website to access the Gazette.