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The Government welcomed the announcement made today (April 26) by the Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Company Limited (HKDNR) that it would soon implement new policies relating to Internet domain name registration under ".hk", said Mr Rex Chang, Principal Assistant Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting.

Starting from June 1 this year, companies can register multiple domain names under ".hk" and transfer domain names upon mutual consent. These enhanced services are introduced in response to the public comments received in the consultation exercise conducted in mid-2000 to facilitate the development of e-commerce in Hong Kong.

To address the risk of cybersquatting arising from the liberalisation measures, the HKDNR has appointed the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre to provide arbitration service to facilitate early resolution of ".hk" domain name disputes so as to obviate the need to resort to court settlement.

And to protect the rights of trademark owners, an eight-day "sunrise" period (June 1 - 8) will be implemented to give priority to applicants with a trade/service mark registered with the Hong Kong Trade Marks Registry. During the "sunrise period", domain name applications will be processed in a batch and trademark owners will be given priority in registering domain names resembling their trademarks.

The HKDNR was set up by the Joint Universities Computer Centre (JUCC) to assume the existing role of the Hong Kong Network Information Centre in registering ".hk" domain names. This is the first move of spinning-off the domain name administration function from the JUCC. As supported by the public during the consultation exercise, the JUCC will soon transfer its domain name registration and assignment responsibilities to a non-profit-making and membership-based corporation with wide representation to be set up towards the end of this year.

Mr Chang paid tribute to the JUCC and HKDNR for their efforts in implementing the new Internet domain name registration policies and facilitating the transfer of the administration of Internet domain names to the new corporation.

To sustain the on-going operations of the new corporation, ".hk" domain name registrants under the new policies will pay a registration fee and an annual renewal fee, both set at $200, which are comparable to the rates charged by overseas domain name registrars.

Existing domain name holders, which are not subject to annual fee payment, can opt for the new policies with the enhanced services by accepting a new agreement, or retaining the old agreement but they will not be eligible for the enhanced services under the new policies.

New arrangements for allowing registration of domain name by individuals will be formulated and implemented by the new corporation after it has been established.

End/Thursday, April 26, 2001

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