APCERT Shuts Down Malware Embedded Sites During Drill Exercise

The Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team completed its annual drill to test the timeliness and response capability of leading Computer Security Incident Response Teams from Asia Pacific economies on 19 December 2006.

Eleven Hong Kong Companies recognised for Excellence in Intellectual Property Management

Eleven Hong Kong companies with outstanding achievements in intellectual property management were recognised at the presentation ceremony of the Innovation Knowledge Enterprise Award 2006 on 19 December 2006.

Speech by SCIT at HK Intellectual Property Society luncheon

The speech by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, at the luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Society on December 14.

SCIT speaks on protection of copyright works in the digital environment

The transcript of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, speaking to the media after attending the luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Society on December 14.

Fraudulent telephone banking system purporting to be related to Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to the telephone number (6631 8558) of a fraudulent voice response unit (VRU) which asks customers of Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited (NCB) to register their account number and related personal identification number. NCB has issued a press release to clarify that NCB has no connection with the fraudulent VRU on December 6.

LCQ17: Information Security

A question rasied by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, in the Legislative Council on December 6.

Fraudulent website: www.boeauk.com

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.boeauk.com". The website looks similar to the official website of The Bank of East Asia, Limited (BEA). BEA has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

Summit Introduces Information Security Forensics to Hong Kong Enterprises

Addressing over 100 participants at the opening ceremony of the Information Security Summit 2006 on 28 November 2006, Dr Stephen Lee, Acting Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council stated the importance for companies and organisations of all types and sizes to manage the breadth and depth of IT fraud, which can spell colossal disaster for victims.

Fraudulent emails purporting to be issued by President of the Legislative Council

It has come to the attention of the Legislative Council that some members have received a fraudulent email purporting to be issued by its President, Hon Mrs Rita FAN HSU Lai-tai, who had already reported to Police for investigation.

A question rasied by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council on November 22.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to the telephone number (3078 7117) of a fraudulent voice response unit (VRU) which asks customers of Dah Sing Bank, Limited (DSB) to register their account number and related personal identification number. DSB has issued a press release to clarify that DSB, the Dah Sing Financial Group and its subsidiaries have no connection with the fraudulent VRU on 17 November.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public to recent lottery fraud cases involving letters purporting to be issued by the HKMA. Recipients of these fraudulent letters were told that they could receive a large sum of money as winners of a lottery by paying an advance fee (say US$40,000) to a designated bank account. The letters alleged that the advance fee was required for obtaining a certificate from the HKMA in order to effect the fund transfer to the recipient.

It has come to the attention of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) that some members of the public have received a fraudulent Chinese email purporting to be issued by the commission on the subject of "Points to note on avoiding election traps", an EAC spokesman said. The spokesman pointed out that the email was not issued, nor related to, the EAC.

The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2 announced the results of the third annual Global Information Security Workforce Study, conducted by global analyst firm IDC. The press release is attached for reference.

In response to media enquiries about a report published by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data on the leakage of personal data on the Internet, a Government spokesman said on October 26 that the Administration respected the course of action taken by the Privacy Commissioner in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

Question by the Hon Tsang Yok-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, in the Legislative Council on October 25.

The speech by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong at the Business Software Certification Programme and the Reward Scheme to Combat Illegal Use of Software in Business on October 23.

The Government would commission an independent Software Asset Management (SAM) contractor to provide free consultancy services to the business community for better management of their software assets, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, announced on October 23.

The Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs of the Trade and Industry Department will hold an SME seminar on the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill on October 19.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.hev-kloten.ch/images/loginaccount/PIB.html". The website looks similar to the official website of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (ICBC (Asia)). ICBC (Asia) has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Computer Forensic Laboratory of the Customs and Excise Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government obtained the ISO9001 and the BS7799 certifications on 10 Oct 2006.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has written to the guardians of participants in the 2009 East Asian Games Slogan Competition apologising for a situation in which some particulars of individual guardians were at one time accessible through searches on the Internet.

Stringent security policies and measures are in place to protect the personal data of the e-Cert issued by the Hongkong Post Certification Authority from any unauthorised use, a spokesman for the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer said on September 20.

In response to media enquiries raised at the press conference on September 4 on the launch of the Genuine Business Software Campaign organised by the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), Customs and Excise Department (C&E), and Business Software Alliance (BSA), the Head of the Hong Kong Customs' Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Ben Ho, reiterated that the Customs and Excise Department remained unwavering in its commitment to taking law enforcement actions against criminal copyright infringement activities.

At the Information Security and IT Service Management Conference, opened on 30 August 2006 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, local enterprises were urged to adopt best practices and international management systems to enhance their network security and management standard.

Invest Hong Kong wishes to alert people in Hong Kong and investors overseas to a false website with the domain name "www.lnvesthk.com". The website looks similar to the official website of Invest Hong Kong - www.investhk.gov.hk. Invest Hong Kong has no connection with the false website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert people in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.winglungservice.com". The website looks similar to the official website of Wing Lung Bank Ltd. (Wing Lung Bank). Wing Lung Bank has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name www.hkb-online.net purporting to be operated by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). HSBC has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.ltoffshore.net". The website looks similar to the official website of Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Hong Kong branch. Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Hong Kong branch has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.sconlineservice.com". The website looks similar to the official website of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a telephone number (6720 6342) of a fraudulent voice response unit (VRU) which asks customers of Dah Sing Bank, Limited (DSB) to register their account number and the related personal identification number. DSB has issued a press release on July 31 to clarify that DSB, the Dah Sing Financial Group and its subsidiaries have no connection with the fraudulent VRU.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent voice response unit which invites customers of Dah Sing Bank, Limited (DSB) to call 3078 9791 to register their account number and the related personal identification number. DSB has issued a press release on July 21 to clarify that DSB, the Dah Sing Financial Group and its subsidiaries have no connection with the fraudulent VRU.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, spoke to the media after attending the "Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme" and "I Pledge" Campaign launching ceremony on July 19.

The speech by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong at the "Youth Ambassador" Scheme Launching Ceremony and "I Pledge" Campaign on July 19.

The speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, spoke at the "Youth Ambassador" Scheme Launching Ceremony and "I Pledge" Campaign on July 19.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong announced that since the pilot run of the "Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme" in February, Hong Kong Customs had up until July 18 received some 1,200 reports of suspected BT seeds involving pirated copyright work on July 19.

The speech (English translation) by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in moving the second reading of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill at the Legislative Council on July 12.

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise Department, Mr. Timothy H M Tong, JP, announced on July 10 that the Department will launch a fast response plan to take actions within 24 hours after getting report on violation of Intellectual Property Rights from exhibitionists.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, speaking to the media of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill at the West Wing lobby of Central Government Offices on July 6.

The Government was determined to contain the problem of spamming in Hong Kong and minimise the nuisance caused by unsolicited electronic messages, the Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mrs Marion Lai, said on July 6.

Fortinet, Inc, the pioneer and leading provider of multi-threat security solutions, announced the opening of its regional headquarters in Hong Kong on June 27.

The Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at its fifth meeting held in Hong Kong agreed to step up co-operation to raise the level of public awareness of intellectual property in both places on June 22.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.stbhk.com". The website looks similar to the official website of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.hkcb.net". The website is operated by an alleged "Hong Kong City Bank", which claims that it offers various banking services to members of the public in Hong Kong.

To assist local companies and the general public to fight spam, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team, and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer of the HKSAR Government, jointly organized the Anti-Spam Seminar on 14 June 2006.

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has strengthened its enforcement actions against the use of unauthorised pay TV decoders in commercial premises and also the sale of unauthorised pay TV decoders during the World Cup period.

In light of the upcoming World Cup, Hong Kong Customs will step up enforcement against all forms of piracy, and maintain close surveillance on the Internet. A spokesman of the Customs and Excise Department warned that distribution of subscription television programme or any copyright work via the Internet without the licence of the copyright owner might constitute criminal liability.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert people in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.icbcasiachina.cn". The website looks similar to the official website of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited ("ICBC (Asia)"). ICBC (Asia) has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

With the support of the telecommunications industry, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority announced the implementation of an initiative to tackle the problem of unsolicited promotional telephone calls generated by machines on June 5.

A Chinese restaurant in Tai Po and a 60-year-old male director were fined $20,000 and $10,000 respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts for contravening the Copyright Ordinance on June 1.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert people in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "online.banks0famerica.com/~jpgsaco/HK.htm". The website looks similar to the official website of Bank of America (Asia). Bank of America (Asia) has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, speaking to the media after officiating at the launching ceremony of anti-internet piracy publicity programmes on May 29.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, reiterated the Government's firm commitment to combatting Internet piracy, reminding the community to stay away from illegal uploading and downloading activities on May 29.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to two fraudulent websites with the domain names "www.standardchartereds.com/
~baritone/images/SC/startibank.htm" and "www.standardcharteredhk.net". The websites look similar to the official website of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited.

A proprietor and a staff of a company were arrested by officers of the Anti-Internet Piracy Team (AIPT) for setting up a website selling infringing Japanese cartoon movies and animation discs.

Hong Kong Customs has appealed to youngsters to respect intellectual property rights and not to commit piracy-related offences, particularly Internet piracy offences.

In response to media enquiries concerning an operation mounted by the Customs and Excise Department, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong urged young people to respect intellectual property rights and not to get involved in any Internet piracy activities on May 11. The Customs has cracked a case in which songs were provided for free download without the authorisation of copyright owners.

The latest "Survey on Business Attitudes to Intellectual Property" commissioned by the Intellectual Property Department reveals that the awareness level of intellectual property rights among business establishments in Hong Kong remains very high. The survey has been conducted annually and is now in its third year.

In response to media requests for comments on the film industry's action to obtain the Court of First Instance order for the disclosure of details of Internet users suspected of illegal copyright infringing activities, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, made the statement on May 10.

A question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, in the Legislative Council on May 3.

A question raised by the Hon Ma Lik and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council on April 26.

In order to promote respect of intellectual property rights and the World Intellectual Property Day, set on April 26 annually, the Intellectual Property Department and the Hong Kong Scout Association on April 23 held the "Respect for Intellectual Property Rights Fun Fair" at Kowloon Park Piazza.

The Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee discussed at its meeting on April 19 the proposed focus areas for the fourth Digital 21 Strategy to be promulgated in early 2007. In the light of the discussions, the OGCIO has come up with seven initial focus areas for further exploration and consultation with the stakeholders in the coming months. Broadly speaking, the aim is to exploit the full potential of information and communications technology for seven different purposes. One of the purposes is to create trust : information security and privacy.

The Census and Statistics Department announced on April 18 the commencement of the Annual Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration in the Business Sector for 2006. The survey aims to collect information relating to information technology usage and penetration in the business sector, which will be useful for reference in the development of information technology strategy in Hong Kong. Information to be sought in the survey includes general information of the establishment; personal computer usage; Internet usage; information technology security and so on.

A 29-year-old man has been jailed for eight months for infringing the Copyright Ordinance. He was convicted in the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on April 6 of two counts of "selling infringing copies of copyright works for the purpose of or in the course of, any trade or business without the licences of the copyright owners" and one count of "possession for the purpose of or in the course of, any trade or business of infringing copies of copyright works with a view to committing any act infringing the copyright without the licences of the copyright owners".

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.winglungonline.net". The website looks similar to the official website of Wing Lung Bank Ltd. (Wing Lung Bank). Wing Lung Bank has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

A question raised by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council on March 29.

An intellectual property (IP) seminar aimed at strengthening support for Hong Kong-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Southwest of Guangdong Province was held in Zhanjiang on March 27.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.ibaonlineservice.com". The website looks similar to the official website of formerly International Bank of Asia, now Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited ("Fubon Bank"). Fubon Bank has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, speaking to the media on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2006 on March 16.

To assist local companies and the general public to fight spam, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), HKSAR Government on 10 March 2006 jointly organized the Anti-Spam Conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Government was working on a package of legislative amendments to improve the Copyright Ordinance, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, said on February 28.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.ub-cn.net". The website looks similar to the official website of Bank of Communications, Hong Kong Branch (Bank of Communications). Bank of Communications has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert people in Hong Kong to a fraudulent website with the domain name "www.wing-lung.com". The website looks similar to the official website of Wing Lung Bank Ltd. Wing Lung Bank has clarified that it has no connection with the fraudulent website.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, was briefed by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong, on the latest developments of the department's strategy in promoting intellectual property rights (IPRs) and clamping down on copyright piracy on February 2.

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (SCIT), Mr John Tsang, spoke to the media after addressing the luncheon meeting of the InterChambers of Commerce on the legislative proposals to contain the problem of spam on January 20.

The Government launched a two-month public consultation exercise on the legislative proposals to contain the problem of unsolicited electronic messages on January 20.

A speech by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, at the InterChambers of Commerce Luncheon Meeting on January 20.

A survey commissioned by the Intellectual Property Department shows that Hong Kong people are becoming more aware of the importance of protecting intellectual property rights.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.swissfirstasia.com". The website is operated by an alleged "Swissfirst Asia", which claims that it offers various banking services to members of the public in Hong Kong.