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