Notice to exporters 2020/12: the extension of the China arms embargo to Hong Kong
Published 22 July 2020
On 20 July 2020 the Foreign Secretary informed Parliament in anoral statementthat the UK has taken measures, given the new National Security Law which China has imposed on the people of Hong Kong
So we will extend to Hong Kong the arms embargo that we have applied to mainland China since 1989 and last updated on3 June 1998. This goes beyond the ban on crowd control equipment announced on25 June 2019and also covers any items that might be used for internal repression alongside the other restrictions included in the 3 June 1998 written ministerial answer.
The scope includes:
lethal weapons, such as machine guns, large-calibre weapons, bombs, torpedoes, rockets and missiles
specially designed components of the above and ammunition
military aircraft and helicopters, vessels of war, armoured fighting vehicles and other weapons platforms
any equipment which might be used for internal repression
Open general licences that include Hong Kong will be changed or amended to bring them in line with restrictions on China.
All licence applications are carefully assessed against theConsolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteriaand a licence will not be granted if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including Criterion 1 embargoes and national restrictions.
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