HONG KONG: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT

S E C R E T HONG KONG 000524 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM STATE FOR S/CT SHARRI R. CLARK E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019 TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN ENRG KCIP PGOV HK SUBJECT: HONG KONG: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT REF: STATE 15113 Classified By: Consul General Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) In response to reftel, Post concurs that the four Hong Kong assets named in the 2008 Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative (CFDI) list meet the criteria (see below). Post also suggests listing Hong Kong assets separately from Mainland China, given a highly autonomous local government and regulatory structure. HONG KONG -------------- C2C Cable Network undersea cable landing, Chom Hom Kok, Hong Kong EAC undersea cable landing Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong FLAG/REACH North Asia Loop undersea cable landing Tong Fuk, Hong Kong Hong Kong Port ¶2. (S/NF) Post submits the following asset for inclusion to CFDI list: -- Name and physical location of the asset Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at Chek Lap Kok, Lantau Island, Hong Kong -- Rationale for including asset HKIA is a key hub in the global supply chain. HKIA operates the busiest international air cargo facility (over 3.6 million tons of air cargo),with most cargo transshipped from Mainland China en route to the United States and other international markets. In 2008, HKIA also became the fifth busiest international passenger airport (more than 48.6 million passengers) with daily direct flights from/to the United States. Because of the air cargo and passenger volume processed, HKIA is a critical node in the global transportation system to be included in the CFDI list. ¶3. (S/NF) Post does not have information to indicate the assets identified are active targets, or vulnerable due to natural circumstances. DONOVAN