EXPORT CONTROL CASES: HONG KONG UPDATE

S E C R E T HONG KONG 001595 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM STATE FOR ISN/CATR STATE FOR ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2034 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC MASS MNUC KSCA IR HK SUBJECT: EXPORT CONTROL CASES: HONG KONG UPDATE REF: A. HONG KONG 1521 ¶B. HONG KONG 1523 ¶C. STATE 82250 ¶D. STATE 84103 Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher Marut, Reason 1.4(b), (c),and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (S) On August 20, Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department (TID),Strategic Trade Controls Principal Trade Officer Billy Au informed Consulate General that the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (HKCED) had started reviewing trading documents for the businesses referred to in refs C and D (Oceanemed Holding Limited of Hong Kong, Malaysia-based Elite Advanced Solutions, and Hong Kong firm Precision Devices Limited). Any irregularities in the trading documents will provide HKCED with legal authority to search the businesses to gather physical evidence. Au requested any additional U.S. Government information that could further assist HKCED,s investigation, including information on specific shipments or transhipments by these businesses as well as any available evidence linking shipped items to the development of weapons of mass destruction. Au stated additional information might enable HKCED to establish reasonable suspicion and fulfill the requirements to obtain legal authority to search. ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Request Department provide additional information to assist Hong Kong authorities further develop cases presented in refs C and D. MARUT