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Hong Kong, China is hosting the APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group (IPEG) XIV Meeting in co-operation with APEC in the Regal Airport Hotel, Chek Lap Kok from March 19 to March 20, 2002.

IPEG is a long-standing institution in APEC. It meets regularly to discuss intellectual property policies and provides a forum for exchange of views and experience in developing areas of intellectual property law and enforcement.

Delegates from 13 APEC Member Economies will attend the meeting. Hong Kong, China is represented by the Intellectual Property Department.

Concurrently, APEC, the Hong Kong Department of Health and the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department are jointly organising another important event: APEC Symposium on Traditional Medicine. The symposium is being held on March 19, 20 and 22, 2002.

Distinguished experts and scholars in traditional medicine and intellectual property protection from local institutions as well as from the mainland and overseas have been invited to speak in the symposium. Participants include medical and health care professionals and legal practitioners.

APEC was established in 1989 with the aim of advancing economic dynamism and sense of community within the Asia-Pacific region. Presently, there are 21 member economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Republic of the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America and Vietnam.

End/Tuesday, March 19, 2002

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