ENG-2019 — Page 133

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Commerce and Industry

department arrested 118 people in 101 piracy cases and confiscated goods, mostly pirated optical discs, worth $3.6 million. It also seized counterfeit goods worth $114 million and arrested 554 people in 846 cases of forged trade marks.

Public Education

The Intellectual Property Department promotes the value of intellectual property trading and the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. In 2019, nine trade associations with over 1,200 retail merchants, covering more than 6,600 outlets and online shops, took part in its No Fakes Pledge scheme. Through school visits and interactive dramas, the department reached out to 176 schools and over 48,200 students. Events were organised to promote creativity among the youth.

Intellectual Property Trading

The Intellectual Property Department promotes the commercialisation and trading of intellectual property in Hong Kong and strengthens the territory's role as an intellectual property trading hub in the Asia-Pacific. The department offers free consultation, the Intellectual Property Manager Scheme and, in collaboration with stakeholders, seminars and training courses. It also showcases success stories of enterprises that engage in intellectual property trading in Hong Kong, and works with the Department of Justice to promote arbitration and mediation in resolving intellectual property disputes.

Cooperation with Mainland

The Intellectual Property Department works with its Mainland counterparts, including those in the Greater Bay Area, to promote intellectual property protection, management and trading.

The Customs and Excise Department exchanges experience and information with its Mainland counterparts on the detection and prosecution of intellectual property-related offences. It conducts joint operations with Guangdong Customs to intercept the cross-boundary movement of infringing goods, and works with the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department to share intelligence and provide mutual assistance in combating cross-boundary infringing activities.

Participation in International Organisations

The Intellectual Property Department takes part in events of the WTO's Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and attends meetings of the APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group.

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 businesses in Hong Kong while safeguarding the public interest. The advisory committee provides an effective platform for the business, academic, professional and political sectors to communicate with government officials on new regulatory proposals or legislation in order to reduce compliance cost.

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