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The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) yesterday (August 2) entered into the first-ever official Cooperative Arrangement with the National Copyright Administration (NCA) to protect copyright and fight against piracy.

Representing the Customs to sign the Cooperative Arrangement was the Assistant Commissioner, Mr William Chow Oi-tung.

The NCA was represented by Mr Wang Zijiang, the Deputy Director General of the Copyright Division. Mr Wang headed a three-member delegation to attend the signing ceremony in Hong Kong.

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Chow said, "This is the first official Cooperative Arrangement signed by the Mainland copyright authority and HKSAR Customs.

"Both parties agree to protect intellectual property rights and fight against copyright piracy within the ambit of their laws, powers and resources," he added.

Both parties are also required to meet regularly to discuss and exchange ideas on matters relating to the execution of the Arrangement when the circumstance warrants.

Mr Chow said that the Arrangement would strengthen the working relationship between NCA and HKSAR Customs and lay the foundation for further mutual cooperation in future.

During their stay in Hong Kong, the NCA delegates also visited the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau of HKSAR Customs, the Intellectual Property Department, the Motion Picture Association and the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association Limited to understand their respective work in protecting copyright.

End/Saturday, August 3, 2002

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