FOLLOW-UP ON HONG KONG'S JETPOWER SUPPLYING

S E C R E T HONG KONG 002289 FOR EAP/CM AND ISN/MTR JOHN PAUL HERRMANN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2033 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC HK CH SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON HONG KONG'S JETPOWER SUPPLYING VARIETY OF METALS TO IRANIAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER (S) REF: SECSTATE 131580 Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher J. Marut. Reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (S) Econ unit chief met with Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department (HK TID) Principal Trade Officer Billy Au December 22 to advise the Hong Kong government that we have no additional information to share on Jetpower shipments to Iran, aside from what was provided in our September 2009 demarche. ¶2. (S) Au confirmed that Hong Kong Customs and Excise (HKCE) has been monitoring Jetpower for some time. According to Au, Jetpower has not engaged in any international trade activity, neither exports nor imports, through Hong Kong since HKCE's surveillance began. While this doesn't rule out Jetpower's involvement in shipments of controlled materials to Iran, it suggests that the company is unwilling to use Hong Kong as a transit point. HKCE and HK TID will continue to closely monitor Jetpower's activities in Hong Kong and share any relevant information with the U.S., said Au. ¶3. (S) Au added that, based on information provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industrial Security officer in Hong Kong, HKCE has also been investigating two companies on the U.S. unverified list that are located in the same building as Jetpower: Free Components and Victory Wave. A thorough investigation revealed no connection between these companies and Jetpower, said Au. MARUT NNNN End Cable Text