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2
3. Secondly, Singapore is taking another look at its copyright law and there are signs of a significant change in her attitude, it being recognised that the present lax situation is damaging her economic interests. The authorities may therefore be thinking of strengthening the local copyright law and then subscribing to international copyright conventions. As you know there have been particular problems in the past with the piracy of book publications and records, and it is over the latter, involving pirated cassette tapes, that Singapore seems to be starting to adopt a different attitude. The lack of effective copyright and industrial property protection in Singapore has been a problem for UK exporters for a number of years. It seems that there may be changes in the Singapore Government's attitudes to the problem and it would be useful if Lord Donaldson might explore this further. Apart from the obvious government contacts he might usefully consider discussing the matter with Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin. His recent judgement the appeal of Lok Shoon Shing is an important landmark. We would be most grateful for your views on the above points and for any other suggestions in which his visit might be made useful.
4.
in
Would Bangkok, to whom I am copying this letter, also consider if there are any matters in Thailand in which Lord Donaldson's status and expertise might be of use.
N J Bowr
South East Asian Department
cc: GW Hopcroft Esq, Bangkok
LAKGD
CRE 2, DOT
The Legal Adviser
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Sir M MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO Governor and Commander-in-Chief HONG KONG
30 April 1981
AKK 026/3
20. 51
05
DESK INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Ders Sir Murray,
VISIT OF LORD JUSTICE DONALDSON
1. Lord Justice Donaldson has been invited to present a paper at an International Arbitration Conference to be held in Hong Kong on
10 October in which I understand you have also been invited to participate. He will also be visiting Bangkok and Singapore.
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2.
W
Lord Justice Donaldson, who is President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, is an expert on commercial law and on international commercial arbitration. He has, therefore, offered his services if there is anything he might usefully do, especially in the field of promoting UK/Hong Kong trade. He also wishes to know whether there are any people he ought to meet in this connection.
3.
I have written to Derek March separately about this, but I should be very grateful for your views on any useful work Lord Justice Donaldson might undertake whilst in Hong Kong.
You
of listel
P Morrice
'Hong Kong and General Department
But I fearle
as f. (24)
7 16
Bu 6 week
NOTED
Awok
Je 5.5.
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