JUSTICE, RECORDS, POLICE AND PRISONS
The number of companies going into voluntary liquidation in 1952 was 43 as compared with 64 in 1951, and 95 companies were struck off the register as defunct, as against 42 in 1951. Fifty six companies completed winding up and were dissolved, leaving 2,489 companies on the register, a net increase of 93 over the figure for the previous year.
Trade Marks are naturally of much importance in a great trading centre like Hong Kong, and the Trade Marks Registry had its usual busy year. 1,130 appli- cations for registration were received in 1952, and 915 new Marks were registered. In addition 106 pre-war Trade Marks were re-registered.
As regards Patents, there is no provision in the law of this Colony for the initial grant of patent rights, but only for the re-registration of patents granted in the United Kingdom, and 5 such registrations were effected during the year.
Official Receiver
Six receiving orders in bankruptcy were made during the year and compulsory winding up orders were made by the Court in respect of 5 companies, one of them a bank with estimated liabilities of over $6,000,000.
Police
The Police had a trying and busy year. In the first three quarters various labour disputes required constant surveillance, including a sit down strike out- side one factory which lasted for forty-one weeks.
125