INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Extrancheck: Post Shipment Verification: Honesty Electronic

Published: Mon 4 Jan 2010 01:59 AM
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHHK #0004 0040159
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040159Z JAN 10
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9304
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS HONG KONG 000004
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/ MCANNER
USDOC FOR 3132 FOR FCS/OIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR PATRICK SANTILLO
BICE FOR OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BMGT BEXP HK ETRD ETTC
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: POST SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: HONESTY ELECTRONIC
TECH LTD.
REF: A) BIS e-mail request 01210093 dated October 28, 2009
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) attempted
to conduct a post shipment verification (PSV) at Honesty Electronic
Tech Ltd., Room 601A, 6/F, Four Seas Building, 208-212 Nathan Road,
Hong Kong (Honesty). The items in question for this PSV are various
electronic components exported to Honesty on or about November 21,
2007. These items are likely classified under Export Control
Classification Number (ECCN) 3A991 and are controlled for
anti-terrorism (AT) reasons. This ECCN is eligible for shipment to
virtually all destinations, end users and end uses worldwide except
certain sanctioned countries and restricted persons and end uses.
The exporter is Abacus Industries of Naples, Florida.
3. According to the Hong Kong Companies Registry, Honesty has been
in existence since 2005. It has the Hong Kong equivalent of USD
1250 in share capital. Chen, Ji Hai (China Passport number
K00710348) is listed as the company's sole director. The company's
corporate address is located at the offices of a company secretarial
service.
4. Commercial Assistant Carrie Chan attempted for some time to
arrange a meeting with a representative of Honesty. Initially, the
company secretarial service answered the phone for Honesty and a
representative of Honesty (a Mr. Chan) returned the call.
Subsequently, Mr. Chan's boss and the head of the company, Mr. Chen
(presumably the company director listed above) stated that he was
willing to meet with ECO but did not have a Hong Kong entry permit
(he is located in mainland China). Mr. Chen offered to obtain such
a permit and revert with an appropriate meeting time. Mr. Chen has
not been in communication for some time and ECO is therefore closing
out this PSV.
5. Based on the information on hand, it is difficult to make a
conclusive determination of whether Honesty is a suitable recipient
of U.S. origin technology. That is because the items in question may
go to virtually all destinations and end users and uses and ECO has
no specific information on hand that these items went to
unauthorized destinations, uses or users. That said, the fact that
Honesty is apparently unwilling (or unable) to meet with ECO is a
concern as is the fact that Honesty claims on its web site that it
is able to source military grade components (presumably for sale
within Mainland China). As a result, ECO believes Honesty to be an
unsuitable recipient of U.S. origin technology. In addition, ECO
recommends a close review of all products being sent to Honesty that
may be more highly controlled.
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media