22
Mr President, a new local patent law is an essential tool for protection of technical innovation. It is also an integral part of Hong Kong's intellectual property regime. To ensure continuity in the protection of inventions in Hong Kong, the new local patent law and the necessary administrative system must be put in operation before July 1, 1997. At the risk of stating the obvious, I would just like to note that any delay in the implementation of the new patent system would jeopardise the protection of patents in Hong Kong after 1997, with all its consequential negative implications for the further economic and technological development of Hong Kong.
By introducing the Patents Bill into this Council today, we hope that Honourable Members will give the earliest possible consideration to the Bill. We hope that the Bill can be enacted with enough time remaining for us to prepare the necessary Patents Rules and administrative procedures for the implementation of the new patent system before July 1, 1997.
By introducing the Patents Bill into this Council today and having regard to the 12-month lead time required for procuring and setting up the first phase of the computer system, we also hope that Honourable Members will vote the necessary funds sought for the patent computer system at a forthcoming meeting of the Finance Committee of this Council before it goes into summer recess.
The time-table we have set for ourselves is an extremely tight one. With support from Honourable Members, I am confident we can achieve our task.
Mr President, I commend this Bill to the Council.
End
Aviation Security Bill
**
Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, at the resumption of the second reading debate of the Aviation Security Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
The Aviation Security Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council for its first and second readings on 5 June 1996.