VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHHK #1000 1540814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020814Z JUN 08
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5003
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS HONG KONG 001000
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/LHINES/ADYSON
USDOC FOR 3132 FOR FCS/OIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM ZARIT
BICE FOR OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BMGT BEXP HK ETRD ETTC
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ROTTER INTERNATIONAL
LIMITED
REF: A) USDOC 03396 B) D397077
1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is
prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act.
2. As per reftel A request and at the direction of the Office of
Enforcement Analysis (OEA) of the USDOC Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS), Export Control Officer Philip Ankel (ECO), conducted
a pre-license check (PLC) at Rotter International Limited, 1019
Hopesea Industrial Centre, 26 Lam Hing Street, Hong Kong (Rotter).
The purpose of the visit was to determine the suitability of Rotter
to be the ultimate consignee (but not end user) of various nylon
restraint devices that are the subject of export license application
D397077. The items, classified under Export Control Classification
Number 0A982, are valued at USD $800 and are controlled for crime
control reasons (CC). The license applicant is Mae Group
International of Upland, California.
3. According to the Hong Kong Companies Registry, Rotter was
registered in 1995. Its share capital is the Hong Kong equivalent of
USD 250,000. Hong Kong residents Man, Sau Kam, Wong, Siu Kei and
Wong Siu Kwong are listed as directors. The registered office of
the company matches the physical location of the company's
premises.
4. A review of Rotter's web site (www.rotter.com.hk) reveals that
the company is a trading company that specializes in personal
protective equipment (helmets, hazmat suits, etc.) as well as law
enforcement equipment (including body armor, police helmets,
camouflage gear, search and surveillance equipment, among others).
It has a mainland China affiliate office in Guangzhou named Magma OS
and EH Limited.
5. On May 29, 2008, ECO and Commercial Assistant Carrie Chan
visited the company and met with Mr. Keith Wong, Administration
Manager. He provided a general overview of the company consistent
with the information noted above and on the company's web site. He
stated that Rotter is the authorized representative or sales agent
of a range of U.S. and other manufacturers for a wide range of
products. He stated that the Guangzhou affiliate office focuses
primarily on personal protective equipment related products. He
provided ECO with a catalogue of the company's products including
its law enforcement products. That catalogue included body armor
(including military assault armor), chemical protection suits,
handcuffs, extendable batons and night vision equipment. When asked
about the various products that would likely require a license for
export from the United States, Mr. Wong stated that he was well
aware of U.S. export controls and noted that Rotter has no sales of
night vision equipment (too hard to obtain licenses) and no longer
sells extendable batons. He stated that certain controlled products
are also sourced from Europe and South Africa (the vests).
6. When asked about other co-located companies (Techflex
International Ltd. and Techflex Trading), Mr. Wong explained that
these companies are only common tenants and their businesses are
separate. He stated that Techflex provides fall arresting systems as
well as general personal protective equipment.
7. As to the specific items in question, Mr. Wong provided ECO with
the originals of several documents including an End-User statement
(with stamp) signed by Ms. Angie Woo of the Hong Kong Police
Department as well as a non-transfer and use certificate. Those
documents provide that the Hong Kong Police Department is ordering
20 units of two types of restraints for testing purposes. Mr. Wong
stated that a future order may be forthcoming but that the present
order is only for sample purposes. Mr. Wong was well prepared with
the applicable documentation and his statements and representations
were credible.
8. In light of the nature of Rotter's product line, ECO provided
Mr. Wong with a detailed explanation of the restrictions on reexport
of crime control items to mainland China as well as the fact that
many of Rotter's products are controlled for export and reexport.
Mr. Wong was quite familiar with the applicable export controls and
affirmed his past compliance and commitment to further compliance
with those rules.
9. At this time, Rotter appears to be a suitable recipient of the
subject controlled items since it cooperated with the PLC, provided
appropriate records confirming the applicable order and affirmed its
intent to comply with U.S. and Hong Kong export control laws.
Nonetheless, given the company's mainland presence and its product
mix, ECO recommends that any license (if granted) be linked to
specific, verifiable, orders from appropriate end-users.
Cunningham