CONFIDENTIAL ##
密
Issue
Objective/explanation
8
1
Present status/progress
China
interest*
UK
interest*
Secretary for Trade and Industry (Cont'd)
The Coordinating
Committee for
Multilateral
Exports Controls (COCOM)
Hong Kong's status in the context of COCOM after 1997 has to be resolved. Hong Kong is not a member of COCOM but because UK is, Hong Kong is currently enjoying uninhibited access to the high technology of COCOM member countries. Access to high technology is of great importance to Hong Kong as an international commercial, investment and financial centre as well as in terms of its industrial
development. The future of COCOM arrangements for Hong Kong remains a very
sensitive issue with the information technology
sector in particular
voicing concern about continued access to high technology products.
Both FCO and DTI are supportive of HK's stance on COCOM. The intention is to hold trilateral discussions with the US, Japan et al. Action currently rests with DTI.
X
X
CONFIDENTIAL #2