TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Consumer Protection
The branch also enforces consumer protection legislation relating to the safety of toys, children's products and consumer goods, the integrity of weights and measures; and the marking of precious metals. The branch carries out spot checks and investigations to ensure the toys, children's products and consumer goods supplied in Hong Kong are safe. It also has responsibilities to protect consumers from fraudulent or unfair trading practices related to quantities of goods and the fineness of gold and platinum articles. In 1999, it carried out 3 725 spot checks and 1 112 investigations. Strategic Commodities
To prevent the HKSAR from being used as a conduit for proliferation of strategic products and to ensure Hong Kong's continuous free access to hi-tech equipment and state-of-the-art technologies, the department works closely with the Trade Department and other agencies to monitor the import, export and re-export of strategic commodities and to detect the provision of services used for the development and production of weapons of mass destruction. In 1999, the department investigated 253 cases of unlicensed import and export of strategic commodities and prosecuted 134 offenders, resulting in fines amounting to $2.7 million. Goods valued at $10 million were also seized and confiscated.
Intellectual Property
The department is responsible for enforcing legislation for the protection of intellectual property rights on copyright and trademarks. It investigates complaints and takes action against the manufacturing, distribution, sale and import and export of goods which infringe intellectual property rights.
Following the enactment of the Prevention of Copyright Piracy Ordinance in May 1998, optical disc manufacturers are required to take out a licence from the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. The department now holds stringent control on all optical disc factories to prevent them from engaging in copyright piracy activities. Up to the end of 1999, 98 licensed optical disc factories and 443 optical disc production lines were registered by Customs.
The Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau of the department was reinforced during the year with an additional 48 officers. A Special Task Force comprising 185 Customs officers was also established in June to take action against illicit trade including the retail sale of pirated optical discs. On major operations, the Special Task Force drew additional resources from other Customs formations to make up a 300-strong team to carry out enforcement action. Specific enforcement efforts were directed at the manufacture and retail of pirated optical discs. Large-scale operations were carried out at 'black-spot' retail outlets and at optical disc factories involved in piracy. During the year, 14 optical disc production lines worth $69.1 million and 16.5 million copies of pirated discs worth $297.38 million were seized. Officers arrested 2701 persons. In addition, counterfeit and falsely labelled goods valued at $60.57 million were seized and 780 persons arrested under the Trade Descriptions. Ordinance.
World Customs Organisation
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) aims at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations and facilitating trade by achieving harmony
123