TICS 31684
The Patent Office
4. If Hong Kong wish to obtain an independent opinion on this issue (last paragraph of Miss AU King-chi's letter) we have no objection to their doing so but, as you say, it must
ultimately be for Hong Kong to decide to live with the doubts; however many legal opinions are obtained supporting their views, they will have to bear in mind that there is also legal opinion on the other side.
5. Finally, I think I mentioned to you over the phone sometime last month that Mr Sugden from here has discussed the problems in Hong Kong with Ms Alice Tai, Director of Intellectual Property in Hong Kong, when they met at recent international meetings. You may be interested in the attached exchange of minutes when Mr Mangat was asked for advice on how to apply the copyright provisions in Hong Kong to works from China. Ms Tai has seen a copy of Mr Mangat's reply of 20 September and apparently agreed that the Hong Kong Act 1985 route suggested by Mr Mangat could be used. FCO legal advisors may wish to pursue this approach.
Rands
Juditt.
Judith Sullivan (Mrs)
cc: Mr Sugden IPP *
Mr Mangat SolC4 *
* without attachments
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