Enclosure & Extract from Mr. A. G. K. Fletcher's letter dated 26th November, 1908.
RECE (REG. 6 TEE 09)
As regards the recognition of Hongkong trade marks by China, I have seen Mr. R. Griffin, Registrar of Designs and Trade Marks, who says that, subject to satisfactory proof of the Hongkong system of registration as explained by me, he personally sees no good reason why the Hongkong register should not be given a status separate from and similar to that of the English register in any convention that may be concluded with China. This is only his personal opinion and all such questions have to be discussed between the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade.
5. Mr. Griffing considers it to be impossible in certain cases for marks registered in Hongkong to be registered also in England and that therefore it would not be desirable to impose such a condition. Widely separated markets are affected and it would probably be found that a number of marks legitimately registered in Hongkong in respect of Far Eastern trade would be refused registration in England on the ground of similarity with marks in use in the English trade or in trade in other markets than the Far East.
P.S. This letter has been submitted to Mr. Griffing, who confirms the statements made.
(Sd) M. Fletcher.