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COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine Limited
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine Limited (HKJCICM), incorporated in May 2001 as a subsidiary company of the ASTRI, will take forward the vision to position Hong Kong as a world centre for the development of health food and pharmaceuticals based on Chinese medicine. Its mission is to spearhead the development of Chinese medicine as a high value-added industry for Hong Kong through promotion and coordination of related activities and strategic support for scientific and evidence-based development programmes. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has pledged to donate $500 million to support the HKJCICM's research and development programmes. The institute has set its programme directions to steer Chinese medicine development embracing standardisation, technology and product development, safety appraisal and evidence-based clinical studies.
Hong Kong Design Centre
The establishment of the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was proposed by four leading design professional bodies in Hong Kong with a view to promoting the design. industry and its competitiveness in the region as a service industry. With a grant and support from the Government, and a donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the HKDC commenced operation in September 2002. It is a multi- disciplinary design centre which aims to promote design as a value-added activity, raise design standards and foster design-related education, and raise the profile of Hong Kong as an innovative and creative hub.
Publicity and Promotional Events
The ITC organised the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition, coordinated the State Science and Technology Awards and took the lead in coordinating Hong Kong's participation in the China Hi-Tech Fair 2003 held in Shenzhen. All these publicity and promotional events helped foster an innovation and technology culture in the community.
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
The Government's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights is evidenced by its dynamic legislative programme, vigorous law enforcement and continuous public education. Hong Kong has in place an intellectual property regime which is in full compliance with international standards.
Registration
Registration activities have taken on a new focus to deliver Internet online search for trade marks (available since January 2003), patents and designs (to be launched in the first quarter of 2004). By November 2003, 10 months into online search of trade marks, the United States emerged as the top user of this search service. Registration in a 90 per cent paperless environment and online filing for trade marks, patents and designs is scheduled to be in place by the first quarter of 2004.
Another focus for registration activities is customer relationship management. Forty-five briefings, workshops, 'walk-throughs' and visits were conducted for filers and stakeholders.