The governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Japan jointly held a seminar on strategic trade controls in Hong Kong Wednesday.

 

The seminar, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, attracted some 150 business representatives mostly from companies engaged in Hong Kong and Japan trading businesses.

 

Speaking at the seminar, Acting Director-General of Trade and Industry of HKSAR Clement Leung highlighted the good cooperation between Hong Kong and Japan on strategic trade controls.

 

He noted that the seminar was aimed at promoting understanding of the strategic control systems in the two places and raising the awareness of the importance of internal compliance.

 

He added that his agency would continue to conduct similar activities, and keep close contact with the trading companies on strategic trade control matters.

 

During the seminar, the representatives introduced the strategic trade control systems in Hong Kong and Japan, the recent international trends in control, and the cooperation between the government and industries.

 

In addition, business representatives were invited to share their experience of developing internal compliance programs in companies.

 

Under Hong Kong's Import and Export Ordinance, the import and export of strategic commodities are subject to licensing control by the Director-General of Trade and Industry.

 

"An effective and credible licensing control system is the key to maintaining the confidence of technology supplying countries in our control system, thereby ensuring Hong Kong's continued access to high-technology," said Leung.

 

The seminar was jointly sponsored by the Trade and Industry Department of the HKSAR, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Center for Information on Security Trade Control of Japan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2006)