TNAG-1142-FCO40-1422-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 118

or discussion

on 20 April 1982

XCC(82)46

Copy No... of 80

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

BAN ON IMPORTS FROM ARGENTINA

Import and Export Ordinance

(Chapter 60)

IMPORT PROHIBITION (ARGENTINA) (NO 2)

REGULATIONS 1982

Introduction

2.

A

On 13 April 1982, after considering a report made orally by the Financial Secretary regarding HMG's request that Hong Kong should take appropriate steps to impose an import bán on goods from 'Argentina along the lines taken by HMG, Members advised and the Governor in Council ordered that regulations should be made with immediate effect banning all imports from Argentina, with the exception of transhipment and re-export trade to China. In accordance with this order, the Import Prohibition (Argentina) Regulations 1982 (copy at Annex A) were published on the same day and came into immediate effect.

B

2

These Regulations had to take immediate effect in order that Hong Kong could be seen to have responded positively and quickly to HMG's request. Having achieved this, it is now necessary to refine the ban on imports from Argentina in order to take account of certain matters which have come to light. At Annex B are the Import Prohibition (Argentina) (No 2) Regulations, and Members' advice is being sought on whether they should be made to replace the original Regulations made on 13 April 1982.

The Import Prohibition (Argentina)

(No 2) Regulations 1982 (Annex B)

3

The scope of the existing ban on imports from Argentina has to be modified:

(a)

(b)

to extend the ban to goods from Argentina exported to Hong Kong via third countries (in addition to goods exported directly from Argentina). This is consistent with the UK's ban;

to enable goods from Argentina that were already on the way to Hong Kong before 13

· April 1982 (when the existing Regulations came into effect) to be excluded from the ban. The Director of Trade Industry and Customs, after contacting various trade