Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Search

 

Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre-License Check: Supreme

VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHK #3749 2620809
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190809Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8670
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS HONG KONG 003749

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/LHINES/DFARROW
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: SUPREME
COMPANY

REF: A) STATE 080771 B) EXP.LIC. D357385 C) 03/29/2005
Hong Kong 01626

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 Export Analysis (OEA) of the USDOC Bureau of
Industry and Security (BIS), Export Control Officer
Philip Ankel (ECO) and Special Agent (SA) John McKenna
conducted a pre-license check at Supreme Company
(Supreme), Room 1814, Park-In Commercial Center, 56
Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong. This PLC concerned
100 bayonets valued at USD 7,600 and classified under
ECCN 0A918. ECCN 0A918 items are controlled for crime
control (CC) reasons. The license applicant is Ontario
Knife Company, 26 Empire Street, Franklinville, N.Y.

3. On August 23, 2006 SA McKenna and the ECO visited
Supreme at the address listed above and met with Tania
Chau, Director.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

4. Chau stated that he ordered 30 bayonets, not 100 as
listed Reftel A, for sale to collectors. Chau stated
that the bayonets would be placed in his showroom at
the above address (room 1802) and sold to collectors
who visited his showroom. He expected to sell 1-2 of
these items per month. By follow-up e-mail to the ECO,
Mr. Chau stated that Supreme had, in fact, ordered 100
bayonets from Supreme Co. This would appear to provide
Supreme Co. with a four to eight year supply of
bayonets.

5. Chau stated the he understood that the USG placed
licensing restrictions on these items, and as such,
they could not be reexported to China. He provided no
specifics on how Supreme would ensure that no such
reexports occurred.

6. Chau stated that he does not sell items via the
internet, however, an internet search revealed an
extensive listing of items available for purchase over
the internet from Supreme's web site
(Supremeco.com.hk). Some of those items would appear
to fall within EAR control parameters. The ECO
recommends that a review of the web site be conducted.

7. Chau stated that he orders items from U.S.
manufacturers Ontario knife, Colt Steel, United
Cutlery, CRKT, and Black Jack. The majority of his
customers for all of these commodities are collectors.
Mr. Chau indicated that he considers collectors to be
individuals who like to purchase various weapons and
related items for display or recreational purposes.

8. Chau indicated that he has been in business since
1987 and he attends the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas
in an effort to identify items of interest and to
review the latest line of items for sale within the
industry.

9. Note: Supreme was the subject of a previous
unfavorable PLC described in Reftel C.

10. Consistent with the facts noted above, the ECO
recommends that this check be considered Unfavorable.

Cunningham

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.