EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: MINGXIN TECHNOLOGY (HONG

UNCLAS HONG KONG 003088 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/LHINES/JSONDERMAN USDOC FOR 3132 FOR FCS/OIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM ZARIT BICE FOR OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BMGT BEXP HK ETRD ETTC SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: MINGXIN TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) CO REF: A) USDOC 09934 B) D386643 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. As per reftel A request and at the direction of the Office of Enforcement Analysis (OEA) of the USDOC Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS),Export Control Officer Philip Ankel (ECO),attempted to conduct a pre-license check at Mingxin Technology (Hong Kong) Co., MSH 2182, Room 1007, 10/F, Ho Kong Commercial Center, No 2-16 Fa Yuen St. Mongkok, Hong Kong (Mingxin). The purpose of the visit was to determine the suitability of Mingxin to be the ultimate consignee (but not end user) of various Husky brand diaphragm pumps that are the subject of export license application D3386643. The items (ECCN 2B350) are valued at USD $36,375 and are controlled for chemical and biological weapons reasons (CB). The license applicant is Graco, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota and the stated end-user of the items is Ciba Specialty Chemicals of Nanjing, mainland China. ¶3. A Hong Kong Companies Registry check of Mingxin reveals that the company has been in existence since 2003. Its paid up capital is the Hong Kong equivalent of USD 1,200. Directors are listed as mainland Chinese national Cai, Qian (passport number G03218234) and Wu, Wutien of Taiwan (with passport number 132249850). Those individuals are not listed as directors in any other companies in Hong Kong. ¶4. Background research on the web reveals that several other companies list Mingxin's address as their company address including New Century Textile Decorating Co., Ltd. and Kai Shun (HK) Enterprise Limited. The companies at this address appear to be unrelated to Mingxin and are involved in unrelated businesses (textiles, health food distribution, chemicals). Mingxin does not have a web presence. ¶5. Another company with a very similar name has a web presence and lists its address in Shenzhen, mainland China. This company, Min Xin Technology (H.K.) Electronics Co. (with the same Chinese characters for Min Xin as for Mingxin) is involved in the electronics distribution business. According to its web site (www.minxintechnology.com),this company is a famous leading independent distributor in China, specializing in military and obsolete parts. There is no reference to this company in the Hong Kong Companies Registry database (notwithstanding the use of H.K. in the company name). ¶6. On December 19, 2007, ECO, accompanied by Commercial Assistant Carrie Chan attempted to visit Mingxin at the addressed listed above. The telephone number listed in reftel A was actually in use by a major bank in Hong Kong so ECO was unable to schedule an appointment with Mingxin. A large commercial building is located at the address and it is filled with the offices of smaller trading companies. Room 1007 at the referenced address was vacant although a large mailbox on the front door of the office contained mail. According to security personnel at the front entrance of the building, room 1007 has been vacant for some time although, from time to time, someone comes to collect mail from the mailbox. Cunningham