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Commerce and Industry

intellectual property trading hub under four strategic areas, namely, enhancing the intellectual property protection regime; supporting intellectual property creation and exploitation; fostering intellectual property intermediary services and manpower capacity; and pursuing promotion, education and external collaboration efforts. The government has been working with the public sector, professional bodies, industry players and other stakeholders to implement the recommendations.

Co-operation with Mainland Counterparts

The Intellectual Property Department works closely with its Mainland counterparts at the national, regional and provincial levels to promote the protection, management and trading of intellectual property.

The Customs and Excise Department maintains close co-operation with its Mainland counterparts in exchanging experience and information on the detection and prosecution of intellectual property-related offences. Hong Kong and Guangdong customs conduct regular joint operations to intercept infringing goods smuggled across the boundaries. The department and the National Copyright Administration provide mutual administrative assistance in the fight against internet piracy to better protect intellectual property rights.

Participation in International Organisations

The Intellectual Property Department takes part in international forums, including events of the WTO's Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and represents Hong Kong, China, at international and regional intellectual property symposiums and conferences, including the 40th and 41st meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Intellectual Property Experts Group held in the Philippines.

Business Facilitation

The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee and its task forces advise the government on the development and implementation of programmes and measures to facilitate business. compliance with government regulations and to sustain a competitive regulatory environment for business in Hong Kong while safeguarding the public interest. The advisory committee is made up of representatives from the business, academic, professional and political sectors and senior government officials from the relevant bureaus.

Business Liaison Groups foster communication between the government bureaus and departments and the major business sectors and help resolve regulatory and licensing matters at the operational level. A business consultation e-platform (www.gov.hk/bizconsult) helps businesses access information on proposed regulations, administrative measures and procedures that would affect business, and offer their comments. Users can also download its mobile app for free by searching for 'eabfu'on the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.

Around 30 government bureaus and departments involved in providing licensing services to businesses take part in the government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' programme, aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency and business-friendliness of the licensing system. The

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