The mainland has agreed to resume exports of silica sand, quartz
sand and other natural sands to Hong Kong and Macao after banning
the export of such materials on March 1, said Wang Xinpei,
spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, on Monday.
The move will help provide enough natural sand for construction
use in Hong Kong and Macao, which lack the natural resource and
have been long relied on imports from the mainland, said Wang.
He said exports will resume on March 25.
The ministry had prohibited the export of natural sand to all
countries and regions to protect the environment and resources,
said Wang.
Strong international demand for natural sand, which is used in
road building and other construction, has boosted China's exports,
while excessive exploitation of sea sand has placed huge pressures
on the country's protection of oceanic resources and the
environment, according to the China Securities Journal.
The government will also consider easing the export restrictions
to Taiwan to solve the difficulties of local construction
industries, said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office
of the State Council.
(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2007)