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"It also provides for the grant of short-term patents. This will give a new type of protection in Hong Kong for inventions with a short-term commercial life.
"It sets out the procedures for obtaining and maintaining patents and short-term patents in Hong Kong, the rights given to the owners, and provisions for enforcement.
"A patent protects technical innovation. A patent system encourages new technology by granting the inventor a patent for his invention which gives him the right to exploit his invention for a set term. An inventor in exchange is required to make his invention public.
"The disclosure of this new technology provides a major source of technical information to inventors, businessmen and other users.
"A draft Patents Bill has been issued to parties concerned in the industrial, professional and academic fields during a consultation exercise from February to March 1996. We have as far as possible incorporated the comments received in this Bill.
"At present, there is no original grant of patents in Hong Kong. We register in Hong Kong United Kingdom patents and European patents designating the United Kingdom.
"A local patent law needs to be enacted before July 1, 1997 because the existing patent registration law is dependent on United Kingdom patent law.
"The Patents Bill largely follows the recommendations made by the Patents Steering Committee in its report issued for consultation in May 1993. The basis for the Bill and the new independent patent system were agreed in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group's 34th Plenary Meeting in November 1995.
"The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 26 in order to ensure that the necessary patents legislative and administrative system can be put into place before July 1, 1997."
End