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Objects and Reasons.
1. The object of this bill is to suspend the trade mark rights in Hong Kong of an enemy or an enemy subject where it is difficult or impracticable to describe an article or sub- stance without the use of such trade mark.
2. The effect of the bill is to enable persons desiring to trade in products formerly protected by trade marks registered in the names of enemies and enemy subjects to obtain a licence suspending the rights of such enemies and enemy subjects for such period as will enable the new product to become known on the local market.
3. Provision is made in clause 4 to enable an enemy to file an application for registration of a trade mark but no certificate will be issued until the conclusion of the war.
4. Power is given to the Chief Justice to make rules and prescribe fees with the approval and concurrence of the Legislative Council.
5. The provisions of the Patents, Designs, Copyright and Trade Marks (Emergency) Act, 1939, have been followed closely, but references to patents, designs and copyright have been omitted for the following reasons:
(1) only patents already registered in the United King- dom can be registered in this Colony;
(2) there is no register of designs in Hong Kong;
(3) the Imperial Copyright Act, 1911, is applicable to this Colony.
6. A Table of Correspondence between this bill and the Patents, Designs, Copyright and Trade Marks (Emergency) Act, 1939, is attached.
February, 1940.
C. G. ALABASTER,
Attorney General.
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