1. The global voice for consumers La voix des Consommateurs à travers le monde La voz global para la defensa de los consumidores

2. Country report for Hong Kong for CI Regional Meeting on A2K Victor HUNG Hong Kong Consumer Council 19 February 2009

3. Summary of issues of concern to consumers in Hong Kong Cost of secondary school learning materials Limit the use of copyright material for teaching Restrictions on parallel imports musical sound or visual recordings, movies, television dramas, e-books Locks on access such as region coding and DRM Major changes include new civil and criminal provisions against circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection strengthening copyright protection in the digital environment

4. Hong Kong intellectual property regime Hong Kong is a Member of WTO, signed TRIPS Agreement and The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) The copyright legislation is fully in compliance with the international standards enshrined in the Internet Treaties. New amendments are made to meet the requirements of WIPO, WCT and WPPT. A Tripartite Forum formed to draft a Code of Practice for online service providers in protecting copyright in the digital environment. There is not much awareness of IP alternatives such as open source and Creative Commons licensing.

5. Other communications rights in Hong Kong Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance regulates blogs or email monitored activities by law enforcement agencies Emails may be filtered out by ISP for combating spams traffic. Hong Kong Government commit to open Internet and “net neutrality”. Hong Kong has provisions protecting privacy and data protection laws but not regulate the handling of personal data. No government measures to favour software interoperability and open standards.

6. Access to the Internet in Hong Kong Broadband Penetration 77.7%, fixed-line 100% and mobile Internet services 100% (see http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/datastat/key_stat.html for statistics) Digital 21 Strategy with special task force formulating strategies and initiatives for addressing digital inclusion issues in Hong Kong aim to enabling all members of the community to have equal opportunity to benefit from Information and Communications Technology development. Government provides free Internet access and public Wi-Fi access point (7900)

7. Conclusions Join CI's Global Consumer Dialogue on A2K issues is to increase the awareness of Hong Kong consumers about the diminishing rights under current IP right protections Know more about the current practices of other countries on how to enhance consumer rights in IP protection Engage the dialogues and share our government practices and implementation experience with participants

8. Victor HUNG Research and Trade Practices Officer Hong Kong Consumer Council www.consumer.org.hk