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    The Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights today (June 24) agreed to step up co-operation to raise the intellectual property awareness level of businessmen in both places.

     At the group's fourth meeting, held in Guangzhou,  the two sides reviewed the latest development of intellectual property (IP) in the two places and noted that many intellectual property co-operation items had been satisfactorily completed. These include two IP seminars organised in Huizhou and Jiangmen, a training course in Shenzhen to introduce Mainland IP law and practice for Hong Kong practitioners and a training and exchange programme for IP officials of both sides.

    Projects for the second half of the year were also discussed, including enhancing the "No Fakes Pledge" in Guangdong and Hong Kong and organising a new seminar on "Intellectual Property and the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises" in Guangdong Province.

    "The Business Survey conducted by our department this year reveals that many Hong Kong businessmen do not understand the difference between company registration and trademark registration," the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Stephen Selby said at a press conference after the meeting. "This issue was raised in the meeting today and we concluded that more joint-promotional efforts should be put in place to clear up their misconception. We also hope to encourage businessmen in Hong Kong and Guangdong to register their IP rights in both places so as to strengthen their protection."

    The leader of Guangdong delegation, the Director General of Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Mr Li Zhong-duo, said the meeting had been very beneficial in building up co-operation of both sides. "In the meeting, we have reviewed various co-operation items and are satisfied with the present progress and the outcomes achieved so far.  We have agreed to start on new initiatives, including an information sharing programme to be held in Guangdong and Hong Kong for teachers in primary and secondary schools," Mr Li said.

    The Expert Group, set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation Joint Conference in August, 2003, aims at enhancing exchanges and co-operation on various aspects of intellectual property, including promotion and education, training, enforcement and information dissemination.  The Guangdong delegation is led by the Director General of Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Mr Li Zhong-duo, and comprising officials from the Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Copyright Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, the Foreign Trade & Economic Co-operation Department and the Guangdong Customs.  The Hong Kong delegation is headed by the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Stephen Selby, and comprising officials from the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau and the Customs and Excise Department.

    A summary of the cooperation items is posted on the website of Intellectual Property Department at www.ipd.gov.hk (Chinese version only).

Ends/Friday, June 24, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:31

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