American officials have objected to the Observatory's planned purchase of a supercomputer which breaches military technology export rules.
The order for the Cray SV1 computer from Silicon Graphics comes at a time of hardline policy in Washington against hi-tech transfers to nuclear powers such as China.
The computer's sale is facing obstacles under new export rules set by the Clinton administration.
It is hoped the $10 million Cray supercomputer, ordered in February, will enable the Observatory to issue more detailed weather forecasts.
'I can't say whether or not we will have difficulty but we will comply with the full licensing requirements,' the Observatory's assistant director, Lam Chiu-ying, said.
The sale order has failed to obtain approval under a 10-day review procedure, according to the Silicon Graphics office in Hong Kong.
This means at least one of the departments of Defence, Commerce, Energy and State, or the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, has raised objections to the sale.