Hong Kong and Guangdong have agreed to enhance and promote the "No Fakes Pledge" campaign, following a meeting today of the joint expert group on the protection of intellectual property rights.

The two sides also agreed to organise a new seminar on intellectual property and the development of small and medium enterprises in Guangdong Province, and to enrich the content of the Intellectual Property Database for Guangdong, Hong Kong & Macau website, www.ip-prd.net.

Deputy Director of Intellectual Property Peter Cheung said that since its inception in 2003, the meeting had built up a close partnership between the IP-related departments in the two places.

"With the increasing economic co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong, we have to maximise this co-operation platform to combat intellectual property infringements and promote the use of intellectual property assets," Mr Cheung said.

The Guangdong delegation leader, Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office Director General Li Zhong-duo, described the meeting as constructive.

"We have agreed to start on a number of initiatives, including a training and information sharing programme to be held in Guangdong for Hong Kong enterprises, lawyers and trademark or patent agents," Mr Li said.

New API to air on Guangdong, Hong Kong TV

A new TV announcement of public interest, "No Fakes Pledge", will start broadcasting in Guangdong and Hong Kong tonight.

The Expert Group, set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation Joint Conference in August last year, aims to enhance exchanges and co-operation on intellectual property, including promotion and education, training, enforcement and information dissemination.

The group will meet for the fourth time in Guangdong in June.