Hong Kong will launch a program this summer to promote awareness of and respect for intellectual property among Hong Kong youngsters. According to a government press release on Saturday, the program will cover seminars, visits and other activities first targeting at scouts aged 11 to 16.

Hong Kong Director of Intellectual Property Stephen Selby said the department has been promoting the concept of copyright protection through formal classroom tuition, such as the Intellectual Protection Tutor Program or school talks.

"This program can provide young people with an alternative, informal education about protecting intellectual property in an interesting and interactive way. It is a long-term process which involves continuous training of scouts throughout their formative years," he said.

The program, co-organized by the Scout Association, Customs and Excise Department, Motion Picture Association and the Intellectual Property society, aims to provide copyright protection training to various levels of scouts from age seven to 65. There are around 100,000 scouts in Hong Kong.

The program's first target will be scouts aged 11 to 16, and it will be expanded to other age groups in the near future.

Intellectual Property Rights Scout badges will be presented to the qualified scout attendees who have completed the program. Training for scout leaders will be held in this year's third quarter.

Source: Xinhua