Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08HONGKONG1553, MACAU FOLLOWS HONG KONG LEAD AND ELIMINATES WINE AND BEER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08HONGKONG1553.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08HONGKONG1553 2008-08-22 00:36 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Hong Kong
VZCZCXRO6138
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHHK #1553 2350036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220036Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1417
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5605
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2483
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1345
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 3788
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 1335
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0001
UNCLAS HONG KONG 001553 
 
TOFAS 12 
SIPDIS 
 
FAS/OA YOST, MILLER 
FAS/OCRA/ABRANSON 
FAS/OFSO/AO/NORTH ASIA/BREHM 
FAS/OTP 
BEIJING FOR AG MINISTER-COUNSELOR 
CHENGDU FOR AG ATTACHE 
SHENYENG FOR ATO DIRECTOR 
SHANGHAI FOR ATO DIRECTOR 
GUANGZHOU FOR ATO DIRECTOR 
TAIPEI FOR AG CHIEF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAGR HK CH
 
SUBJECT:  MACAU FOLLOWS HONG KONG LEAD AND ELIMINATES WINE AND BEER 
TAX; DUTY ON SPIRITS REMAINS 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: On Monday August 25, Macau will terminate its 15 
percent CIF duty and join Hong Kong as members of the extremely 
limited club of tax-free importers of wine and beer.  Macau's move 
will greatly simplify the transshipments of wine and beer between 
the two vibrant Special Administrative Regions.  For beverages 
exceeding 30 percent alcohol, Macau's "Consumption Tax" of 10 
percent CIF value plus 20 Macau Pecatas (about US$2.58) per liter, 
will remain in force.  U.S. exports of wine and beer to Hong Kong 
and Macau have exploded in the wake of Hong Kong's tax elimination 
and the booming casino industry in Macau.  U.S. wine and beer 
exports to Hong Kong exceeded $8 million in the first half of 2008, 
132 percent above 2007 levels.  For Macau, January - June exports 
approached US$3 million, an astonishing 1,576 percent increase. 
Post projects both Hong Kong and Macau wine imports will continue to 
soar through at least 2009.  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (U) Pressured by the relentless stream of glowing international 
publicity Hong Kong has enjoyed since it eliminated its excise taxes 
on wine and beer in February 2008, Macau authorities are following 
suit.  As of Monday August 25, Macau will terminate its 15 percent 
CIF duty and join Hong Kong as members of the extremely limited club 
of tax-free importers of wine and beer.  Macau's move will greatly 
simplify the transshipments of wine and beer between the two vibrant 
Special Administrative Regions.  While both Hong Kong and Macau are 
part of China, each is a separate customs territory distinct from 
Mainland China.  Traders are rejoicing nearly as much in the 
elimination of the paperwork requirements as they are in the 
elimination of the excise tax. 
 
3. (U) However, like Hong Kong, Macau is leaving in place its import 
tariff on spirits.  For beverages exceeding 30 percent alcohol, 
Macau's "Consumption Tax" of 10 percent CIF value plus 20 Macau 
Pecatas (about US$2.58) per liter, will remain in force.  By 
contrast, Hong Kong assesses an excise tax on spirits of 100 
percent.  (Note: Traditionally called a "sin tax" as it is most 
commonly imposed on alcohol and tobacco, an excise tax is a levy on 
the value of a domestic or imported good at the factory door. 
Import tariffs apply only to imported items, and typically are 
charged on the value of the product plus the cost of 
transportation.) 
 
4. (U) U.S. exports of wine and beer to Hong Kong and Macau have 
exploded in the wake of Hong Kong's tax elimination and the booming 
casino industry in Macau.  According to U.S. Customs statistics, 
U.S. wine and beer exports to Hong Kong of over US$8 million in the 
first half of 2008 are running 132 percent above 2007 levels.  For 
Macau, January - June exports approached US$3 million, an 
astonishing 1,576 percent increase.  At least some of the increase 
is likely due to the tens of millions of Chinese tourists who visit 
Hong Kong and Macau, and can legally carry two bottles back to the 
Mainland where import and value added tariffs on all alcoholic 
beverages remain high. 
 
5. (U) Despite this impressive growth, the U.S. is the fourth 
largest wine supplier to Macau, with just 3 percent of the market. 
France dominates the market with a 78 percent share, followed by 
Portugal with 9 percent, and Australia with 5 percent. 
 
6. (U) Post projects both Hong Kong and Macau wine imports will 
continue to soar through at least 2009.  For U.S. wine and craft 
beers especially, the elimination of the tax, booming tourism, the 
weak dollar, and a sophisticated population with relatively high 
disposable income create an historic opportunity for growth.  Post 
encourages interested U.S. exporters to contact the Agricultural 
Trade Office at post for detailed information and advice on selling 
product to these markets. 
 
DONOVAN