TNAG-0265-FCO40-301-Legislation-for-copyright-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 25

REDIFFUSION

REDIFFUSION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Registered and Head Office

P.O. Box No. 451 Carlton House Lower Regent Street London SW1 Telephone 01-930 0221 Cables Rediffuse London SW1

K.M. Wilford, Esq.,

Assistant Under Secretary of State,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

Downing Street,

London.

Dear Sir,

S.W.1.

2nd October, 1970.

32

See BOT Compens

at

34

Re: Hong Kong Copyright Legislation

We understand that the Minister of State will shortly consider the further progress of the copyright legislation required by Hong Kong Government.

We have on many occasions protested at the injustice that would be occasioned to us by certain parts of this legislation and the harm that would be done thereby to our legitimate interests. We believe that our past contentions should be adequately shown in the papers to be considered by the Minister, but, for the sake of clarity and caution, we append a brief resume of the essential features of our arguments.

We believe that the justice of our case is sufficiently patent that the Minister will take the view that the legislation should not go forward containing the features which we maintain are profoundly objectionable. Nevertheless, in order that a difficult issue may be resolved in an amicable manner, to the satisfaction of both parties, we would be prepared to proffer an undertaking to Hong Kong Government in the terms of the draft annexed, in exchange for Hong Kong Government's abandonment of the features to which we take exception, in the copyright legislation.

We should make it clear that we have no objection to, and indeed welcome, the application of the 1956 Copyright Act to Hong Kong, provided it is, in principle, similar to the Act as it applies in this country.

REF.

A Member Company of the Rediffusion Organisation

DSubsel

Cont/..