Paris Notification No. 196
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

Cessation of Responsibility of the Portuguese Republic, from December 20, 1999, for International Rights and Obligations Arising from the Application of the Paris Convention to Macau

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to enclose a copy of a letter dated November 17, 1999, from His Excellency Mr. Álvaro de Mendonça e Moura, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations at Geneva.

November 25, 1999

Permanent Mission of Portugal
Geneva 17 November 1999
WIPO-590/99

Mr. Director-General,

Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to refer to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, of 20 March 1883 as revised at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 and as amended on 2 October 1979, which applies to Macau at present and to state as follows.

In conformity with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Portuguese Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the question of Macau, signed on 13 April 1987, the Portuguese Republic will continue to have international responsibility for Macau until 19 December 1999 and, from that date onwards, the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from 20 December 1999.

From 20 December 1999 onwards, the Portuguese Republic will cease to be responsible for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Convention to Macau.

I should be grateful if the contents of this letter of notification could be formally put on record and brought to the attention of the other Parties to the Convention.

Please accept, Mr. Director-General, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(signed)
Álvaro de Mendonça e Moura
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of Portugal