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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1974.
FEE REVISION AFTER 24 YEARS
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THE FEES FOR A NUMBER OF SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF UNITED KINGDOM PATENTS ORDINANCE WHICH HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR 24 YEARS ARE TO BE DOUBLED WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1.
THE NEW FEES, DESIGNED TO RECOVER THE FULL COST OF THESE SERVICES, WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN IT PASSED A MOTION HOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.
THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE TO INCREASE FROM $60 TO $120 THE FEE FOR CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION OF PATENTS, TO RAISE FROM $3 TO $5 THE FEE FOR EVERY HALF HOUR'S SEARCH OF THE REGISTER, TO RAISE FROM $10 TO $20 THE FEE FOR CERTIFYING OFFICE COPIES AND TO RAISE FROM $20 TO $40 THE FEE FOR THE ISSUE OF DUPLICATE CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION.
.HE EXPLAINED THAT MOST OF THE EXISTING FEES WERE INTRODUCED IN 1950 AND HAVE SINCE REMAINED UNCHANGED.
+AS PART OF THE OVERALL REVISION OF FEES AND CHARGES TO WHICH I MADE REFERENCE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SPEECH, THE FINANCE BRANCH HAS UNDERTAKEN A COST STUDY OF THE TRADE MARKS REGISTRY OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT AND HAS FOUND THAT, AT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF FEES, THE REGISTRY HAS BEEN RUNNING AT A LOSS AND THERE ARE NO GOOD REASONS WHY IT SHOULD BE SUBSIDISED BY THE GENERAL TAXPAYER.+
POWERS OF NOTE-ISSUING BANKS EXTENDED ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND FOR ANOTHER YEAR THE POWERS OF NOTE-ISSUING BANKS IN HONG KONG.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID WHILE MOVING THE MOTION THAT THE BANK NOTES ISSUE ORDINANCE LAID DOWN THAT THE POWERS OF THESE BANKS WOULD LAPSE AUTOMATICALLY UNLESS RENEWED BY THE COUNCIL FROM TIME TO TIME.
+THE PRESENT POWERS OF THESE BANKS EXPIRE ON JULY 12, 1974. IT IS PROPOSED IN THIS MOTION THAT THESE POWERS SHOULD BE RENEWED FOR THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, HE SAID.
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