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Hong Kong in US Report on Special 301

Following is a question by the Hon Chim Pui-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the United States Government Trade Representative's most recent report in which Hong Kong is put under the "Other Observations" category on the watch list under the US Special 301 law, will the Administration inform this Council:

(a)

of the Administration's understanding of the "Other Observations" category;

(b)

how the Administration will respond to Hong Kong being put on the watch list for the first time; and

(c)

Reply:

Mr President,

whether consideration will be given to approaching other countries or territories included in the "Other Observations" category with a view to making a joint response?

The US Trade Representative's Report on Special 301, announced at the end of last month, identified a number of economic entities, countries and territories perceived by the US to have inadequate intellectual property protection regimes or fair and equitable market access for US persons who rely on intellectual property protection. They were grouped into three categories with those perceived to provide the least adequate intellectual property protection regimes included under the 'priority foreign country' category, followed by the 'priority watch list' and the 'watch list'. The Report also contained an 'other observations' section. We understand this to be a commentary section rather than a list. We note that in this section, the USTR drew attention to four countries where the lack of adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights is a concern. The 'other observations' section also highlighted developments in and expectations for progress in 16 countries and territories, of which Hong Kong was one.