XN000022-1985-07-28 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JULI 28, 1985

HE HOPED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COMPANIES REGISTRY WOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS PRESENT MOMENTUM IN THE DRIVE TO ENFORCE THE DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES.

THESE PROVISIONS WERE NOT ONEROUS, BUT THERE WERE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO, WHILE SHELTERING UNDER THE PRIVILEGE OF LIMITED LIABILITY CONFERRED BY THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, DID NOT WISH TO DISCLOSE RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THOSE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IR COMPANIES.

THEY WERE HAPPY TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE BUT DID NOT ACCEPT THE BURDEN, HOWEVER LIGHT.

ON THE SUBJECT OF STAFFING, MR GLEESON SAID THAT CONSIDERABLE DELAYS WERE NOW BEING EXPERIENCED BY THE PUBLIC IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE COMPANIES REGISTRY. FOR EXAMPLE IT NOW TOOK AT LEAST SIX WEEKS TO RESERVE A COMPANY NAME, AND DOCUMENTS DID NOT GET ON TO THE FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION UNTIL AS MUCH AS FOUR MONTHS AFTER FILING.

THIS WAS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FOUR MAIN FACTORS: (A) THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS BEING FILED AND THE NUMBER OF COMPANY NAMES APPLICATIONS BEING RECEIVED, (B) THE POLICY OF +ZERO GROWTH IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, (C) THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY IN FILLING EXISTING STAFF VACANCIES, AND (D) CERTAIN LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREMISES IN WHICH THE REGISTRY IS HOUSED AND THE QUALITY OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES.

THESE DELAYS WERE THE SUBJECT OF A SWELLING VOLUME OF PUBLIC COMPLAINT BUT THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT THE REGISTRY WOULD BE MOVING TO IMPROVED PREMISES IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING IN QUEENSWAY BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR AND THAT COMPUTERISATION OF CERTAIN OF THE REGISTRY'S FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING THE RESERVATION OF COMPANY NAMES, WAS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

GIVEN THE FILLING OF EXISTING STAFF VACANCIES, HE WAS LOOKING FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR, MR GLEESON SAID.

THE TRADE MARKS REGISTRY SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED — 3 400, AS AGAINST 3 215 IN THE SAME PERIOD OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AT 1 460 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW TRADE MARKS REGISTERED WAS HIGHER THAN IN 1984, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TRADE MARKS NOW REGISTERED IN HONG KONG TO 43 615.

IN THE PATENTS REGISTRY THE NUMBER OF UNITED KINGDOM PATENTS RE-REGISTERED LOCALLY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR WAS 500, AS AGAINST 520 IN THE SAME PERIOD OF 1984.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF +LIVE+ PATENTS RE-REGISTERED WAS NOW APPROXIMATELY 11 100. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO GIVE A PRECISE FIGURE AS THIS DEPENDED ON THE LIVES OF THE PATENTS AS ORIGINALLY REGISTERED IN THE PATENTS OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE IN LONDON.

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