HKG WILL PARTICIPATE IN IPR WORKSHOP, ASKS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001978

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
EB FOR FELSING
NSC FOR WILDER
D FOR FRITZ
DEPT PASS USTR AND USPTO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KIPR KJUS ECON PINR HK CH EINT
SUBJECT: HKG WILL PARTICIPATE IN IPR WORKSHOP, ASKS FOR
PRIOR NOTIFICATION OF FUTURE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS ORGANIZED
BY THE CONSULATE

Classified By: EP Section Chief Simon Schuchat; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: On Friday, May 12, Constitutional Affairs
Bureau (CAB) Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs
Joseph Lai told E/P Chief that although the Hong Kong
Government (HKG) would fully participate in Post's IPR
Enforcement Workshop (scheduled for May 15 and 16),future
"international" events would be considered on a case-by-case
basis. Lai explained that the CAB considered any event
involving third country officials traveling to Hong Kong to
be an "international" event, in which case the CAB should be
notified of the event as early as possible. Prior to
meeting, Post had received indications that certain regional
Chinese representatives that were preparing to attend the
Workshop would not be allowed to attend the event. End
Summary.


2. (C) On Friday, May 12, Constitutional Affairs Bureau (CAB)
Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Joseph Lai asked
E/P Chief Simon Schuchat for a meeting to discuss Post's
upcoming IPR Enforcement Workshop. Lai said that he had a
two part message to deliver:

- We understand that this event is being organized by the
U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong for May 15 and 16. We
also understand that various overseas officials were invited
to this event. In consideration of the close liaison that
the U.S. Consulate has maintained with the Hong Kong Customs
and Excise Department on this particular event, the Special
Administrative Region Government has decided to take part in
the workshop, without prejudice to future events, which will
be approached on a case-by-case basis.

- We request that the U.S. Consulate General apprise the
Constitutional Affairs Bureau of any international event it
is planning to organize well in advance of the actual event.


3. (C) Lai continued that preparations for this workshop
demonstrated the importance of close liaison between USG and
HKG organizations when working on events. He was
appreciative that Schuchat had first mentioned the
Consulate's plans for the workshop during a meeting in
February. To keep the process simple, Lai asked that the
Consulate contact the CAB well in advance of any events that
could be considered international in nature. Lai noted that
the Consulate was not being asked to notify the CAB about
any events that only involve other foreign Consulates based
in Hong Kong, as such events would not be considered to be
international in nature. He said this request was intended
to facilitate better cooperation and a smoother process for
future events.


4. (C) EP Chief said that although the Consulate appreciated
the HKG's concerns, the message did in fact represent a new
request for a new, additional procedure. In the past, the
Consulate has only coordinated with the HKG agencies directly
concerned with the substantive content of the planned events.


5. (C) Prior to the meeting, and separately, Post had
received indications that some of the regional Chinese
representatives -- in particular, participants from Shenyang
and Shanghai -- would not be able to attend the Workshop.
However, we still expect a participant from Beijing, and we
have yet to hear again from the two Shenzhen participants who
are expected at the Workshop on May 15.
Cunningham