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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, at a media session on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 after attending a radio programme today (December 12):
Reporter: (On the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014.)
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: At this time, we take stock of what have been discussed and these are the convergence of consensuses. They are already embodied in the bill and so I think this is the right time for us to pass this amendment bill to take benefits, take advantage of all these consensuses that we have already achieved which is not easy. In the past, there have been a lot of engagements and discussions.
Different stakeholders have different issues that they would like to throw in in the bill and there is no consensus, for example, the copyright owners would like to throw in site blocking for example judicial site blocking which exists in about 40 others jurisdictions in the world.
And we believe that, yes, we will look at these issues, but not in this bill. If everybody wants their issues to be embodied in this bill then we will take a lot more time in deliberation, and we will never reap the benefits of our discussions so far. That's why I believe that the right thing to do is to pass the bill and then immediately start consultation on the remaining issues. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, December 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:12
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