An amendment order reflecting the latest changes in the international non-proliferation regimes' strategic commodities control lists will be tabled at the Legislative Council on November 18, the Trade & Industry Department says.

The Import & Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2009 was gazetted today.

The major changes involve relaxing the control over certain wireless personal area network equipment devices with published or commercial cryptographic standard - including certain wireless routers and wireless printers, and removing the control on certain field programmable logic devices, including certain integrated circuits with memory function.

After the order is enacted, traders will no longer have to apply for import and export licences for trading relevant commodities.

Hong Kong has been closely following the control thresholds adopted by the international non-proliferation regimes - the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime - to ensure it is always upholding controls to the highest international standards, while relieving traders from licensing requirements when the standards are relaxed.

The department will inform traders of the amended schedule details. Call 2398 5587 or send an email for enquiries.

In Hong Kong, strategic commodities' import and export is subject to licensing control to maintain the confidence of technology-supplying countries, ensuring the city's continued access to high technology.