COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
detected 31 Internet piracy cases, resulting in the seizure of pirated goods and equipment valued at $2.04 million, and the arrest of 53 persons.
Public Education
During the year, the Intellectual Property Department continued to keep up the momentum of public education. Consumers and retailers were encouraged to join the ongoing campaigns, ‘I Pledge' and 'No Fakes', to show their commitment to buy, use and sell genuine goods.
In 2003, the department continued its programme of visiting secondary schools. Visits to 23 schools with a total of 6 830 students were made. Several teaching aids were produced including a comic book and a three-dimensional computer game.
The department has produced several Announcements in the Public Interest to promote respect for intellectual property rights and a TV programme on Making Intellectual Property Your Business -- A Wealth Creation Series. This eight-episode programme conveyed to the public the message that intellectual property is a prime driver of economic growth. In cooperation with trade and professional organisations, the department also organised several seminars for SMEs to help them understand the importance of intellectual property and explain to them the systems for protecting such assets in Hong Kong.
Following the Sixth Guangdong/Hong Kong Joint Conference held on August 5, the Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights was set up to enhance the cooperation between the two places in the area of protection of intellectual property rights. The first meeting was held in Hong Kong on December 3. In December, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Intellectual Property Database was launched to help enterprises operating in the three places, particularly SMEs, to understand their respective intellectual property laws and systems. The database can be accessed at http://www.ip-prd.net/. The department partnered with the Trade Development Council and its counterparts in Guangdong in organising seminars and briefing sessions to promote understanding of the respective systems.
Participation in International Organisations
The Intellectual Property Department continued to participate in the activities of the WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in 2003. Representatives of the department also attended conferences at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), including the meeting of the Assemblies of the Member States, and the conferences held by various committees, such as the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. The department also represented Hong Kong, China at other international and regional intellectual property symposia and conferences, including the 16th meeting of the APEC Intellectual Property Experts Group held in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March and the 17th meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, in July.
Business and Services Promotion
The Government launched the Helping Business Programme in 1996, with the aim of creating a more business-friendly environment and maintaining Hong Kong's position as one of the best places in the world for doing business. Measures were initiated under the programme to cut government red tape and eliminate over-regulation; reduce costs of compliance to business; and introduce new and improved services.
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