The Import & Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2006 will be tabled to the Legislative Council to reflect updated international controls on strategic commodities.

The main changes include the removal of control over microprocessors that have multiple data or instruction bus or serial communication ports, and the relaxation of the control threshold in terms of computers' operational speed.

Traders should welcome the amendments as they will relieve them of the burden of applying for import and export licences for the specific types of microprocessors and computers concerned, the Trade & Industry Department said.

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

Iimposing licensing controls helps monitor and control the flow of strategic commodities to maintain technology -supplying countries' confidence in our control system, ensuring Hong Kong's continued access to technology.

Trade & Industry Director-General to name date 

The Amendment Order was gazetted today. It will come into force on a day the Director-General of Trade & Industry will appoint by notice in the Gazette.