The Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China Ltd. (DFHK) has released a notice stating its stance of prohibiting import of roughs from Cote d'Ivoire, following a circular published by the Hong Kong government, reports say. As published in reports, the notice reads that on 30 April 2010 the government published the United Nations Sanctions (Côte d’Ivoire) Regulation 2010 (L.N. 46 of 2010). This regulation, made under section 3 of the United Nations Sanctions Ordinance (Cap. 537), is to implement sanctions against Côte d’Ivoire imposed by the United Nations Security Council under resolution 1893.

The regulation mentions a prohibition against importation of rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire; prohibition against the supply, sale, transfer or carriage of arms or related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire; prohibition against the provision of advice, assistance or training related to military activities to certain persons; prohibition against making available to certain persons or entities funds or other financial assets or economic resources, or dealing with funds or other financial assets or economic resources of certain persons or entities; and prohibition against entry into or transit through the HKSAR by certain persons.

This regulation shall expire at midnight on 31 October 2010. Those who fail to comply with the regulation in Hong Kong will be subject to penalties and some can face imprisonment for seven years and/or a fine, reports add. The U.N. Security Council has upheld long-running diamond sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire through October, at which time the world body will again review the diamond embargo.