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Commerce and Industry
Public Education
The Intellectual Property Department promotes the value of intellectual property trading and the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. In 2017, nine trade associations with over 1,100 retail merchants, covering more than 6,800 outlets, took part in its No Fakes Pledge scheme. Through school visits and interactive dramas, the department reached out to 179 schools and over 48,000 students. Events are organised to promote creativity among the younger generation.
Intellectual Property Trading
To promote intellectual property trading, the Intellectual Property Department works with stakeholders to implement measures under four strategic areas, namely enhancing the intellectual property protection regime; supporting intellectual property creation and exploitation; fostering intellectual property intermediary services and manpower capacity; and pursuing promotion, education and external collaboration efforts. The department offers a consultation service, the Intellectual Property Manager Scheme and, in collaboration with stakeholders, relevant training courses. It also promotes intellectual property auditing and due diligence, showcases success stories and works with the Department of Justice to promote arbitration and mediation in resolving intellectual property disputes. In January, the department commissioned a survey on the manpower involved in intellectual property trading and management in Hong Kong. The survey is expected to be completed in the first half of 2018.
Cooperation with Mainland
The Intellectual Property Department works closely with its Mainland counterparts, including those in the bay area, to promote intellectual property protection, management and trading.
The Customs and Excise Department maintains close cooperation with its Mainland counterparts in exchanging experience and information on the detection and prosecution of intellectual property-related offences. It conducts regular joint operations with Guangdong customs to intercept the cross-boundary movement of infringing goods, and works with the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department to exchange intelligence and offer mutual assistance in investigations. The Hong Kong customs and the National Copyright Administration also provide mutual administrative assistance in the fight against internet piracy.
Participation in International Organisations
The Intellectual Property Department takes part in events of the WTO's Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and represents Hong Kong, China, at meetings of the APEC Intellectual Property Experts Group.
Business Facilitation
The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee and its task forces advise the government on the development and implementation of programmes and measures to facilitate business compliance with government regulations and to sustain a competitive regulatory environment for business in Hong Kong while safeguarding the public interest. The advisory committee is
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