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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Monday) reiterates that the Government attaches great importance to the fight against copyright piracy.

In a letter to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Film Awards Association, Mr Ng See-yuen, he called for the support and co-operation of copyright owners which, he said would be conducive to the successful prosecution of copyright pirates.

Mr Tung said, "I firmly believe that the achievement of any business involving creativity, including film production, depends on a robust regime for the protection of intellectual property rights. Therefore, the Government is committed to enhancing respect for intellectual property rights among various sectors and to strictly enforcing the relevant regulations.

"Hong Kong's laws concerning intellectual property rights are regarded as among the world's highest standard. Over the past year, the film industry has participated actively in our consultation exercise on the draft Prevention of Copyright Piracy Bill. The SAR Government was much encouraged by the support from film producers."

Mr Tung point out that in a bid to strengthen actions against copyright piracy, the Government has implemented a series of measures including:

* All import and export of optical disc manufacturing equipment is subject to licensing requirements which came into effect on December 29, 1997.

* The Prevention of Copyright Ordinance Piracy Ordinance was passed in March 1998. It requires all optical manufacturing operation to be licensed and all optical discs made in Hong Kong to carry a source code.

* The Government has doubled the intellectual property-enforcement staff of the Customs and Excise Department from 118 in 1994/95 to 237 in 1998/99.

* Since September 1997, the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) staff have visited more than 85 secondary schools and spoke to 25,000 students to spread the anti-piracy message.

* The Government has also stepped up co-operation with the copyright industry, optical disc manufacturers and the enforcement authorities in other places in a bid to combat copyright piracy more effectively.

Mr Tung said, "Since the Ordinance came into force in June last year, Customs have strengthened their enforcement actions. In 1997, they seized more than 4.5 million copies of pirated optical discs valued at more than $140 million.

"In the first quarter of 1998, they again stepped up their efforts in raiding the more notorious retail outlets and seized more than 2.5 million pirated optical discs.

"As a result, I believe such outlets have now largely subsided."

He said that the execution of intellectual property rights such as copyright, normally involved complicated legal procedures. What was more, strong evidence was required in the criminal court.

He called on the industry to join hands in reporting copyright piracy and to give strong support to the Reward Scheme of the Customs and Excise Department so as to facilitate the execution of law and the gathering of intelligence.

Mr Tung said, "Apart from this, the film industry may, in line with the school visits by the IPD, explained intellectual property issues to young people.

"I would encourage the film industry to support and assist in the Government's promotion and publicity activities so that all concerned will understand the importance of intellectual property right protection," he said.

End/Monday, April 27, 1998

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