Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HONGKONG4744
2006-12-14 10:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:
HKG COMPLETES INTERNAL REVIEW OF SFI, READY TO
how-toVZCZCXRO4948 PP RUEHCN RUEHGH DE RUEHHK #4744 3481029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141029Z DEC 06 FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9800 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 9930 RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0988 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0260 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 3457 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 4284
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 004744
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO EAP/CM
STATE PASS TO EB/TRA/OTP
STATE PASS TO ISN/WMD, S/CT
DHS FOR BRIAN WHITE/LAUREN ZUCKER
DOE FOR DAVID HUIZENGA/TRACY MUSTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2026
TAGS: ASEC EWWT HK
SUBJECT: HKG COMPLETES INTERNAL REVIEW OF SFI, READY TO
COMMENCE DISCUSSIONS ON PARTICIPATION
REF: A. HONG KONG 4659
B. HONG KONG 4611
C. HONG KONG 4569
Classified By: DPO Marlene Sakaue, reasons 1.4 b and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 004744
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO EAP/CM
STATE PASS TO EB/TRA/OTP
STATE PASS TO ISN/WMD, S/CT
DHS FOR BRIAN WHITE/LAUREN ZUCKER
DOE FOR DAVID HUIZENGA/TRACY MUSTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2026
TAGS: ASEC EWWT HK
SUBJECT: HKG COMPLETES INTERNAL REVIEW OF SFI, READY TO
COMMENCE DISCUSSIONS ON PARTICIPATION
REF: A. HONG KONG 4659
B. HONG KONG 4611
C. HONG KONG 4569
Classified By: DPO Marlene Sakaue, reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (U) This is an action request, please see para 4.
2. (C) On December 14, Commerce, Industry, and Technology
Bureau (CITB) Permanent Secretary Yvonne Choi provided an
update on the HKG's review of possible limited participation
in the USG's Secure Freight Initiative (SFI). Appreciating
USG use of her government's preferred language in the
December 7 SFI rollout, Choi told the DPO that the HKG has
completed its assessment of the implications of limited HKG
participation in SFI. The HKG stands ready to commence
discussions with the USG to consider issues that have
surfaced in this review. For the HKG, Joseph Lai Yee-tak --
just named to assume the post of Director-General of Trade
and Industry (TID) on January 5 -- will lead the discussions.
Choi envisions that officials from Customs, TID, and the
Economic Development and Labour Bureau will participate.
Lai's group will report to Choi's Task Force, and, if
necessary, Choi will get involved in discussions of policy
issues. Choi asked whether a USG team might be able to come
to Hong Kong for discussions in January.
3. (C) Reiterating concerns she had outlined previously
(refs b and c),Choi restated the HKG's need to discuss a
number of issues touching on technical, legal, and
jurisdictional matters, including questions about
implementation. If both sides can satisfactorily resolve
these problems, Choi believes the HKG will be able to
participate, in a limited capacity, in SFI. She mentioned
the scope of the scanning program; data segregation; data
sharing (which in the HKG's view raises legal and
jurisdictional issues); health concerns about truckers; and
scanning technologies and equipment (e.g., technical issues
that have arisen in the ICIS pilot project at Modern
Terminals) as issues that require resolution.
4. (C) Action request: Post requests Washington agencies
quickly identify and forward possible dates for USG - HKG
discussions in January.
Cunningham
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO EAP/CM
STATE PASS TO EB/TRA/OTP
STATE PASS TO ISN/WMD, S/CT
DHS FOR BRIAN WHITE/LAUREN ZUCKER
DOE FOR DAVID HUIZENGA/TRACY MUSTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2026
TAGS: ASEC EWWT HK
SUBJECT: HKG COMPLETES INTERNAL REVIEW OF SFI, READY TO
COMMENCE DISCUSSIONS ON PARTICIPATION
REF: A. HONG KONG 4659
B. HONG KONG 4611
C. HONG KONG 4569
Classified By: DPO Marlene Sakaue, reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (U) This is an action request, please see para 4.
2. (C) On December 14, Commerce, Industry, and Technology
Bureau (CITB) Permanent Secretary Yvonne Choi provided an
update on the HKG's review of possible limited participation
in the USG's Secure Freight Initiative (SFI). Appreciating
USG use of her government's preferred language in the
December 7 SFI rollout, Choi told the DPO that the HKG has
completed its assessment of the implications of limited HKG
participation in SFI. The HKG stands ready to commence
discussions with the USG to consider issues that have
surfaced in this review. For the HKG, Joseph Lai Yee-tak --
just named to assume the post of Director-General of Trade
and Industry (TID) on January 5 -- will lead the discussions.
Choi envisions that officials from Customs, TID, and the
Economic Development and Labour Bureau will participate.
Lai's group will report to Choi's Task Force, and, if
necessary, Choi will get involved in discussions of policy
issues. Choi asked whether a USG team might be able to come
to Hong Kong for discussions in January.
3. (C) Reiterating concerns she had outlined previously
(refs b and c),Choi restated the HKG's need to discuss a
number of issues touching on technical, legal, and
jurisdictional matters, including questions about
implementation. If both sides can satisfactorily resolve
these problems, Choi believes the HKG will be able to
participate, in a limited capacity, in SFI. She mentioned
the scope of the scanning program; data segregation; data
sharing (which in the HKG's view raises legal and
jurisdictional issues); health concerns about truckers; and
scanning technologies and equipment (e.g., technical issues
that have arisen in the ICIS pilot project at Modern
Terminals) as issues that require resolution.
4. (C) Action request: Post requests Washington agencies
quickly identify and forward possible dates for USG - HKG
discussions in January.
Cunningham