The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) apply to Hong Kong with effect from Oct. 1, the Hong Kong SAR government announced on Wednesday.

The two treaties, collectively referred to as the Internet Treaties, aim at updating and improving the protection of copyright and related rights in light of new digital technologies.

The government said that the copyright legislation in Hong Kong is fully in compliance with the international standards enshrined in the Internet Treaties. The exclusive rights given to the producers of phonograms under the HKSAR's copyright legislation in effect provides them with a higher level of protection when compared with the right to equitable remuneration laid down in the Internet Treaties.

Some requirements of the Internet Treaties, which are on performers' rights and rental rights, have been incorporated in the Copyright Ordinance of Hong Kong under a major copyright law amendment exercise in 2007 and the relevant provisions came into effect on April 25, 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2008)