VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHHK #0232/01 0391001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081001Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9579
INFO RHMFIUU/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS HONG KONG 000232
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC CH HK
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: UNFAVORABLE PRE-LICENSE
END-USE CHECK ON APPLICATION 050211346
REF: SECSTATE 8626
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Per reftel request, Post conducted a
pre-license end-use check on application 050211346 for the
export of International Traffic in Arms (ITAR)-controlled
transformer coupling devices to end-user Sinometer (Hong
Kong) Co. Ltd. (Sinometer) and foreign consgnee H
Development Company Limited (H). Sinmeter has no physical
presence in Hong Kong and ppears to be a trading/procurment
entity with operations in Mainland China. H is a trading
firm with operations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai and
denies any involvement in reftel transaction. In Post's
assessment, Sinometer and H are not reliable recipients of
reftel items or any other controlled technologies/equipment.
This report also contains publicly available information on
Sinometer, H, and their directors. END SUMMARY
End-User: Sinometer (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.
----------------------------------------
2. (SBU) On February 1, Post's Economic Specialist attempted
to make an appointment with Sinometer's Manager Wang Su Rong
by calling the number provided in reftel request
(755-8287-2662, Shenzhen, China area code). Economic
Specialist was subsequently transferred to Wang's Mainland
China cell phone number (86-138-0222-3818). Economic
Specialist asked Wang to confirm Sinometer's Hong Kong
address and phone number, as Post could not locate Sinometer
through Internet or local phone directory searches. Wang
admitted the Hong Kong address she provided with her license
application was that of Sinometer's Company Secretariat, an
accounting firm in Hong Kong. Wang added that the accounting
firm was Sinometer's representative in Hong Kong and also
accepted mail/package deliveries on Sinometer's behalf. Wang
confirmed she placed the order for reftel items and indicated
the items would be used "maybe in Hong Kong or maybe the
Mainland (China)." Wang was unable to meet as she "mostly
worked in Shenzhen, China," but a Mr. POON at Sinometer's
Company Secretariat could handle her business dealings upon
her request.
Sinometer's Company Registry Information
----------------------------------------
3. (SBU) Following public information was obtained from the
Hong Kong Companies Registry:
a. Company Name: SINOMETER (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED
b. Company Registry Number: 0849272
c. Company Type: LOCAL COMPANY
d. Incorporation Date: 11 JUN 2003
e. Company Status: PRIVATE/LIVE
f. Name History: ONLY ONE NAME (see 6.a above)
g. Registered Office (Address):
FLAT B 18/F LOYONG COURT COMMERCIAL BUILDING
212-220 LOCKHART ROAD
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG
h. List of Directors (two total, both PRC nationals):
- Name/Gender: GUANG, QUAN FEN (Male)
- Passport Number: G03974862
- Date of Birth: 10 JUN 1966
- Issuing Country: PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
- Address: ROOM 1308 13/F BLOCK 5 CHAMPS ELYSEES GARDEN
NONG YUAN ROAD
FUTIAN DISTRICT
SHENZHEN, CHINA
- Name/Gender: WANG, SU RONG (Female)
- Passport Number: G03966174
- Date of Birth: 10 APR 1966
- Issuing Country: PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
- Address: ROOM 403 BLOCK 71 YITIAN VILLAGE
FUTIAN DISTRICT
SHENZHEN, CHINA
i. Particulars of Company Secretary:
- Name: WONG, YU PO
- Hong Kong Passport: H00017658
- Hong Kong ID No: H353099(1)
- Date of Birth: 10 SEP 1953
- Address: FLAT F 19/F BLK 4 BAYVIEW GARDEN
633 CASTLE PEAK ROAD
TSUEN WAN
NEW TERRITORIES, HONG KONG
Visit to POON HONG YEUNG
------------------------
4. (SBU) On February 3, EconOff paid an unannounced visit to
Sinometer's registration address. The building's directory
and the office's signboard indicated this was the location
for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) POON HONG YEUNG.
EconOff later determined subject POON, Hong Yeung was
registered as a CPA at this address in Hong Kong's Special
Supplement No. 4 to Government Gazette No. 24/2008.
5. (SBU) A male who identified himself as "FAI" answered
EconOff's "door-knock" but did not allow EconOff to enter the
small two-room office. After EconOff explained purpose of
visit (i.e., to discuss aspects of Sinometer's licensing
request), FAI asked for spelling of Sinometer's name and then
searched for it among a set of nine company registration
documents posted overtly on a board. After finding
Sinometer's registration, FAI made several phone calls and
then informed EconOff that Sinometer personnel were
unavailable to personally meet; he could arrange a conference
call at the office's conference room instead. EconOff
declined that arrangement and asked that Sinometer
representatives call EconOff directly to schedule a
face-to-face meeting.
6. (SBU) EconOff also inquired about FAI's duties and the
various company registration forms posted on the board. FAI
admitted POON HONG YEUNG employed him for the provision of
secretarial services to those companies. These included
answering phone calls, responding to faxes, accepting and
forwarding mail and packages, as well as other ad hoc
services on behalf of the companies. (NOTE: POON HONG
YEUNG's business model is legal and very common in Hong Kong.
For a few U.S. dollars and in a matter of hours, one could
register a business in Hong Kong, contract this type of
secretarial/support services, and forgo the costs of
maintaining a physical presence in the city. EconOff noticed
a similar operation in the neighboring flat. END NOTE)
Foreign Consignee: H Development Company (H)
--------------------------------------------- ---
7. (SBU) On February 1, Post's Economic Specialist called H
at 852-2838-1977 and discussed reftel items with a Mr. Wong,
H's General Manager. Wong denied H's involvement as the
shipment's foreign consignee and further elaborated that H
never placed any orders on Sinometer's behalf. He declined
to meet with Post personnel.
8. (SBU) On February 3, EconOff again called H's Mr. Wong
to inquire about H's purported relationship with Sinometer
and H's mention on reftel items' DSP-5 (Application/License
for Permanent Export of Unclassified Defense Articles and
Related Unclassified Technical Data). Wong admitted that H
had once allowed Sinometer to utilize H's UPS shipping
account as a favor to a mutual client. However, H ceased
contact with Sinometer staff shortly after that occasion.
Wong said Sinometer did not obtain approval to continue using
H's name and its UPS account for reftel items. Wong again
denied any involvement in reftel transaction but this time
offered his availability for future inquiries in this matter.
H's Company Registry Information
----------------------------------
9. (SBU) Following public information obtained from Hong Kong
Companies Registry:
a. Company Name: H & E DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
b. Company Registry Number: 0858550
c. Company Type: LOCAL COMPANY
d. Incorporation Date: 12 AUG 2003
e. Company Status: PRIVATE/LIVE
f. Name History: CHINESE NAME CHANGED IN APRIL 2006
g. Registered Office (Address):
16/F WAH HEN COMMERCIAL BUILDING
381-383 HENNESSY ROAD
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG
h. List of Directors (two total, both Hong Kong ID card
holders sharing same address in Hong Kong):
- Name/Gender: CHOW, YUEN KAM (Female)
- Hong Kong ID No: C382060(0)
- Address: FLAT A 18/F BROADVIEW TERRACE
40 CLOUD VIEW ROAD
NORTH POINT, HONG KONG
- Name/Gender: YU, FU KIN (Male)
- Hong Kong ID No: D167929(6)
- Address: FLAT A 18/F BROADVIEW TERRACE
40 CLOUD VIEW ROAD
NORTH POINT, HONG KONG
i. Company Secretary: CHOW, YUEN KAM (details given above).
j. Company website: www.h-e.com.hk
----------
Conclusion
----------
10. (SBU) In Post's assessment, Sinometer (Hong Kong) Co.
Ltd. and H Development Company Limited are not reliable
recipients of reftel items or any other controlled
technologies/equipment. Documents obtained during end-use
check were sent to Compliance Specialist Rachael-Therese S.
Joubert-Lin at the Department's Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls/Compliance (PM/DTCC).
MARUT