ENG-2002 — Page 161

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

To strengthen cooperation and exchanges with its counterparts in the Mainland especially in the Pearl River Delta - the department organised a 'Mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR Intellectual Property Symposium' in Guangzhou in December. In the same month, the department led a delegation of legal and accounting professionals in a roadshow describing Hong Kong's intellectual property system and the related professional services provided by the HKSAR practitioners. The roadshow was held in Guangzhou, targeting Hong Kong SMEs operating in the Pearl River Delta region as well as private enterprises in the Mainland.

Participation in International Organisations

The Intellectual Property Department continued to participate in the activities of the WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in 2002. Representatives of the department also attended conferences at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), including the meeting of the Assemblies of the Member States, the conferences held by various committees including the Standing Committee on Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, and the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. At the regional level, the department organised an APEC IP Experts Capacity Building Programme for TRIPS Implementation in February. In support of the programme, the department conducted a one-week training seminar for member economies. The department also represented Hong Kong, China at other international and regional intellectual property symposia and conferences, including the 15th meeting of the APEC IPEG held in Los Angeles in July.

Business and Services Promotion

The Business and Services Promotion Unit (BSPU) of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau oversees the implementation of the Helping Business Programme and coordinates the Government's efforts in services promotion. The Helping Business Programme, launched in 1996, aims to create a more business-friendly environment and to maintain Hong Kong's position as the best place in the world for business. A Business Advisory Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary, provides a forum for identifying problems encountered by the business sector in the Government's operations and for recommending solutions. The group comprises 14 leading members of the business community and four Principal Officials of the Government. It meets quarterly to take forward the programme under four main strands of activities to cut government red tape and eliminate over-regulation; reduce costs of compliance to business; introduce new and improved services; and transfer public services to the private sector where appropriate market conditions prevail. The BSPU is responsible for the first three strands of activities.

The BSPU works closely with government bureaux and departments to identify opportunities for improving government operations and services and to implement initiatives to help business. During the year, 10 studies and projects under the Helping Business Programme were completed and some 50 recommendations identified. Departments implemented more than 30 specific measures, including streamlining the procedures and reducing the processing time for registration and licensing of pharmaceutical products; introducing bulk billing functionality for rates and government rent; applying information technology to re-engineer the processing and

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