The "Godfather"
Recently, I acted as an external member of a tertiary institution's programme validation panel. The programme was in the field of science, engineering and law. I played my team role and later got a feedback on me as:"Godfather of the HK IP field!"
From the late 1980s to 1990s, I helped reform the law relating to copyright. I also contributed to the text of the WTO-Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). And I was answerable and responsible for various HK IP Bills including Layout-design (Topography) of Integrated Circuits, Patents, Registered Designs and Copyright.
In the 2000s, I acted as a WTO dispute settlement panelist and settled disputes concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Food Stuffs (US v EC and Australia v EC). I also negotiated the IP chapters of HK's first bilateral Free Trade Agreements with a country (New Zealand) and an area (the European Free Trade Association). In the early 2010s, I championed the concept of international trading of intellectual property via HK.
Whenever the term "Godfather" is mentioned, I recall the epic film which left an artistic and cultural legacy. The ups and downs I went through, and the twists and turns I manoeuvred also moved HK forward regionally and internationally in the IP field. If I got myself in "The Godfather" film character, my line to whisper (with the help of subtitles) would be: "I'm flattered."