I write to draw your
attention to the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism
Measures) Ordinance which was published in the Gazette
on 19 July 2002 (Ordinance Number 27 of 2002). Certain
provisions of the Ordinance, for which no subsidiary
legislation need to be made or no further legislative
amendment is envisaged, came into effect upon the
publication of the Commencement Notice (Legal Notice
137 of 2002) on 23 August 2002. A copy of the Ordinance
and the Commencement Notice is at Annex
I and Annex
II respectively. Soft copy of the Notice and
the Ordinance is also available on the Government
website (www.info.gov.hk/pd/content/index.htm).
The Ordinance seeks to implement
the mandatory elements of the United Nations Security
Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1373 which was aimed
at combating international terrorism on various
fronts. In addition, the Ordinance implements the
most pressing elements of the Special Recommendations
on Terrorist Financing issued by the Financial Action
Task Force in October 2001.
Your particular attention is drawn
to sections 7, 12 and 14 which make it a criminal
offence to finance terrorists and require the reporting
of terrorist financing to the relevant authorities.
You are advised to take appropriate steps to ensure
compliance with the Ordinance.
We will keep you posted of the
commencement of the remaining provisions of the
Ordinance and any specification by the Chief Executive
of persons and property as terrorists, terrorist
associates or terrorist property under section 4
of the Ordinance.
If you have any questions, please
contact Mr. William Hsieh at 2867 4529 or Ms. Carol
Hui at 2867 2551.
