XN000022-1996-11-04 — Page 5

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Remedial Measures:

(i)

()

The Management Board should be requested to examine the TICF (Procedure for Ex Gratia Payments) Rules so as to reduce the time for processing applications for ex gratia payments under the TICF.

The task group mentioned in (a) above should also co-ordinate follow-up actions required immediately after the closure of a major travel agent, e.g. assistance to travellers stranded overseas and arrangements for clients affected to proceed with their package tours as originally planned as far as practicable.

Recommendations (d), (e), (f) and (g) are being implemented and actions will be taken to implement the remaining recommendations as soon as practicable.

Draft Copyright Bill for consultation

A draft Copyright Bill and a consultation paper on the Bill have been issued for consultation today (Monday).

The Government today issued a draft Copyright Bill to a number of organisations, including copyright owners and users in the relevant sectors as well as those in the professional and academic fields for their comments.

The consultation will last until December 2 this year.

A spokesman for the Trade and Industry Branch said: "The draft Copyright Bill is in line with prevailing international standards on intellectual property rights protection, such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) under the World Trade Organisation, and the relevant international intellectual property conventions.

"The Bill largely follows the recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission in its report (November 1993) on reform of the law relating to copyright, which was formulated after extensive consultations.