every candidate must pass the oral before he can take the written examination. The Board may also sit as a disciplinary tribunal, having power to issue a reprimand or order the removal of the name of an auditor from the List.

37. During the year the Board inquired into and approved the applications of nine auditors and one auditing firm for admission to Part I, and of eight auditors and one auditing firm for admission to Part II, of the Authorized List. An examination for admission to Part II was held in February and March 1960. There were three candidates, two of whom passed the oral examination, but failed in the written paper.

Explanatory

PART IV

TRADE MARKS REGISTRY

38. The Trade Marks Ordinance, 1954, is based on the United Kingdom Trade Marks Act, 1938. The Register consists of two parts, Part A for distinctive marks, and Part B for marks which are not registrable in Part A but are capable of distinguishing the goods of the applicant and have been used in Hong Kong for not less than two years. Registration in Part A gives full rights of protection, in Part B modified rights. Registrations are valid for seven years (fourteen if registered prior to 1st January, 1955), but may be renewed indefinitely for further periods of fourteen years. Defensive and certification trade marks may be registered, and a person other than the proprietor of a mark may be registered as a registered user. The procedure and forms to be used are set forth in the Trade Marks Rules, 1954.

General

39. The general increase in the Colony's trade and manufacture was reflected in an increase in the work of the Registry, which was con- sequently extremely busy throughout the year. However, notwithstand- ing the increased number of applications it has been possible, due to the progress made with the new Card Index System referred to in paragraph 46 below, to speed up the process of registration, and the number of outstanding cases has in consequence been considerably reduced. The introduction of a new modern filing system has also greatly facilitated the work of the Registry,

Searches and Inspections of the Register of Trade Marks

40. During the year, 314 official searches were made by the Registry on requests under Rule 108 for the purpose of ascertaining whether there

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