Dear Exhibitors,

Fast Action Scheme at HKTDC Hong Kong Houseware Fair 2009

At the forthcoming HKTDC Hong Kong Houseware Fair (“the Fair”) in April, the Customs and Excise Department (the “Customs”) will collaborate with the "Hong Kong Brands Protection Alliance" ("HKBPA") to conduct a trial run of the “Fast Action Scheme" (“the Scheme”) during the Fair. HKBPA represents 50 trade associations and is now inviting applications from Hong Kong companies who are members of one of the 50 participating trade associations to join the Scheme.

Exhibitors can join the Scheme by registering the details of their trade marks and copyrights with HKBPA and paying the applicable handling fees to HKBPA prior to the Fair. Upon receipt of a complaint from the relevant trade mark or copyright owner, the Customs will take enforcement action against products exhibited at the Fair that infringe the rights of those companies that have joined the Scheme.

The Scheme will be operated independently of the HKTDC by the Customs and HKBPA and is not a substitute for the existing on-site intellectual property rights (“IPR”) complaints procedure implemented by the HKTDC. Exhibitors who do not wish to participate in the Scheme are welcome to visit the HKTDC’s on-site IPR office for assistance in the same manner as at previous Electronics Fairs.

For more details concerning the Scheme, please contact the Secretariat of HKBPA directly as follows:

Address : 3/F, HKPC Building, 78 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, HK.

Tel : (852) 2788 5391
Fax : (852) 2788 5388
Contact Person : Ms. Peggy Ng

Exhibitors are also strongly advised to carefully scrutinize your exhibits and conduct all necessary due diligence on the IPRs attached to your exhibits prior to the Fair to avoid possible IPR infringement at the Fair.

If you have further questions regarding HKTDC’s on-site IPR complaints procedure, please feel free to contact Mr. Brian Chu at (852) 2240 4372 or via email: brian.hy.chu@hktdc.org

 

Hong Kong Trade Development Council