THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1993
UNDER THE EXISTING CODE, HE SAID, THE ACCUSED IS GUILTY UNTIL IT PROVES ITS INNOCENCE AND IN THE MEANTIME, PUNITIVE ADDITIONAL DUTIES MUST BE PAID AND BUYERS THEREFORE LOOK ELSEWHERE.
"THE CODE, THE DISCIPLINES WHICH GOVERN IT AND THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES UNDER IT MUST BE TIGHTENED TO PREVENT ABUSE."
"I HAVE SEEN
OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
INFORMAL PROPOSALS WHICH GO IN ENTIRELY THE THEY ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE," HE SAID.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEPENDENT PATENT SYSTEM FOR HK
*
THE
HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE AN INDEPENDENT, COST-EFFECTIVE PATENT SYSTEM WITH ITS OWN LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR GRANT OF PATENTS TO PROTECT INVENTIONS.
THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND ABLE TO EARN THE RESPECT OF OTHER COUNTRIES.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE PATENTS STEERING COMMITTEE RELEASED FOR CONSULTATION TODAY (THURSDAY).
AND
THE COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO ADVISE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE TYPE OF PATENT SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN HONG KONG FOR THE PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS.
FOR
"THE COMMITTEE BY A MAJORITY ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT A SYSTEM GRANTING PETTY PATENTS BE INTRODUCED TO PROTECT INVENTIONS WHICH HAVE A SHORT COMMERCIAL LIFE.
"THIS WILL PROVIDE A NEW ALTERNATIVE FORM OF PROTECTION FOR INVENTIONS FOR THE MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES WHICH MAKE SHORT-TERM PRODUCTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID.
THE EXISTING PATENT SYSTEM IN HONG KONG IS BASICALLY A SYSTEM OF PROTECTION AFTER REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG OF A PATENT GRANTED BY THE UK PATENT OFFICE OR THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE DESIGNATING THE EXISTING PATENT LAW MAKES REFERENCES TO THE UK PATENT LAW.
UK.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE NEW PATENT SYSTEM SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE GRANT OF AN INDEPENDENT PATENT IN HONG KONG BASED ON THE REGISTRATION OF PATENTS GRANTED BY THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE AND ALSO, IN THE SECOND PHASE, PATENTS GRANTED BY THE CHINESE PATENT OFFICE.
IN
A
REGISTER THE NEW
PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS MEANS THAT AN APPLICANT FOR EITHER EUROPEAN PATENT OR A CHINESE PATENT WILL BE ABLE TO SEEK TO THAT PATENT IN HONG KONG UPON THE FULL ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM.
/"SUCH A