THE COURTS, POLICE, PRISONS AND RECORDS
227
Companies Act, 1948). On incorporation in Hong Kong a company pays a registration fee of $100 plus $2 for every $1,000 of nominal share capital. Foreign corporations establishing a place of business in the Colony merely pay $5 fees on filing the documents required by Section 318 of the Ordinance.
Trade Marks and Patents Registries. The Trade Marks Ordinance, 1954, is based on the Trade Marks Act, 1938, but there are some variations.
During the year 1,367 new trade marks were registered, as against 1,263 in 1958. Registrations are valid for seven years (14 years if registered prior to 1st January 1955), but may be renewed indefinitely for further periods of 14 years. There were 16,253 trade marks on the Register on 31st December 1959.
Hong Kong law does not provide for the original grant of patents, but patents registered in the United Kingdom are registrable under the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance (Chapter 42). This provides that the grantee of a patent in the United Kingdom may, within five years from the date of issue of the patent, apply to have it registered in Hong Kong. During the year seventy seven patents were so registered.
Bankruptcies and Liquidations. During the year eleven bank- ruptcy petitions were filed, of which one was withdrawn and one dismissed. Receiving Orders were made in eight cases (one being subsequently rescinded), and in the remaining case an Order was made for the administration in bankruptcy of the estate of a deceased debtor. The Official Receiver was appointed Trustee in every case except one in which an outside trustee was appointed, the first such appointment for many years.
There were five petitions for the compulsory winding-up of companies. Two were withdrawn prior to the dates fixed for the hearing, and winding-up orders made in the other three cases. The Official Receiver was subsequently appointed Liquidator in all three cases.
Marriages. All marriages, except non-Christian customary marriages, are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance (Chapter 181). Under this, it is necessary for a notice of intended marriage to be exhibited at the Registry for fifteen clear days, after which the Registrar issues a certificate which