Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre-License Check: Scitop Instrument Co

VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHK #1725 2540212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110212Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8504
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001725

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/ADYSON
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: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SCITOP INSTRUMENT CO

REF: A) BIS e-mail PLC request dated August 12, 2009 B) D421434 C)
HK 03068 (2007)

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 Scitop Instrumentation Co, Unit 2,
28/F, Kwong Kin Trade Centre, No. 5 Kin Fat St., New Territories,
Hong Kong (SCITOP). The item in question is a centrifugal pump
classified under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 2B350
and controlled for chemical and biological weapons reasons (CB).
This pump is the subject of export license application D421434. The
license applicant is Cole Parmer Instrument Company of Vernon Hills,
Illinois.

3. SCITOP was the subject of a prior unfavorable EUC in 2007 as
more fully described in reftel C. In that case, SCITOP was unable
to account for the final disposition of other CB controlled items
sent under BIS license.

4. SCITOP has maintained its web presence at www.scitop.com as
noted in reftel C. According to the Hong Kong Companies Registry,
SCITOP's sole director is listed as Mr. Wong, Yuk Cheung (this is
down from several directors in 2007). SCITOP's parent company is
registered as Trade International Limited.

5. On August 20, 2009, ECO visited the company and met with Mr.
Wong with whom ECO had met in 2007. Mr. Wong recalled the prior
meeting. Mr. Wong stated that the business had remained more or
less the same since that time (although some directors had left the
company and business was down a bit). Mr. Wong's business card
lists Guangzhou (SCITOP Instrument Company Ltd.) and Shenzhen
affiliates (Right Products Company Limited) as well as a Shanghai
sales office. Mr. Wong stated that the parent company (Trade
International) previously owned other subsidiaries but that this
company will be closed in the coming months. Mr. Wong characterized
the mainland operations of the company as comprised of sales
agents.

6. As to the specific order in question, Mr. Wong provided a
purchase order from his customer ASTRI. This entity is a Hong Kong
government affiliated business incubator for Hong Kong companies
(ASTRI.org). A call to ASTRI confirmed that this entity had ordered
the item in question.

7. Mr. Wong conceded that the prior post shipment verification
(PSV) had not gone well in that he had been unable to confirm the
final destination of certain items. He stated that the PSV had been
a learning experience for him and that he understood better now the
need to keep better records and to have greater control over
transactions with controlled items.

8. Based on the information detailed herein, ECO believes the item
in question is destined to ASTRI as provided in license application
D421434.

MARUT

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