XN000022-1993-05-27 — Page 9

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1993

"SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD GIVE HONG KONG THE BENEFIT OF A PATENT SYSTEM WITH FULLY SEARCHED AND EXAMINED PATENTS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR HONG KONG TO INVEST IN ITS OWN EXAMINATION SYSTEM, THE SPOKESMAN

SAID.

SAID,

IN THE

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CHOOSING THE EUROPEAN AND CHINESE PATENT AUTHORITIES, HE COMMITTEE HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THEIR INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION, THE NEED TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO THE EXISTING UK-BASED SYSTEM, THE HIGH LEVEL OF TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE COUNTRIES UNDER THESE AUTHORITIES, AND THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE THAT THE NEW PATENT LAW SHOULD PROVIDE THAT THE REGISTERED PATENT ONCE GRANTED IN HONG KONG WILL BE A HONG KONG PATENT INDEPENDENT OF THE EUROPEAN CHINESE PATENT. IT WILL BE ENFORCED HERE BY THE HONG KONG COURTS.

OR

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOW AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH.

"THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DISCONTINUE THE EXISTING DEPENDENCY ON UK PATENTS BUT TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY WITH THE EXISTING PATENT SYSTEM.

"THIS WOULD BE ACHIEVED BY MODELLING THE PROPOSED PATENT LAW ON THE UK LAW WHICH ARE REFERRED TO BY EXISTING HONG KONG PATENT LAW WITH THE EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION WHICH GOVERNS THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE; AND BY ALLOWING FOR THE CONTINUED REGISTRATION OF EUROPEAN PATENTS DESIGNATING UK, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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"WE HAVE ISSUED THE REPORT TO CONCERNED PARTIES IN THE INDUSTRY, PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC FIELDS

CONSULTATION, HE ADDED.

FOR

"THEY WILL HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 20 THIS YEAR TO SEND THEIR COMMENTS TO US TO FACILITATE OUR DELIBERATIONS AS TO HOW BEST THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN FORWARD," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE MAY WRITE TO THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH, THIRD FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL COPY OF THE REPORT.

A CHINESE TRANSLATION OF CHAPTERS 1, 9 AND 13 OF THE WHICH SUMMARISES THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE OBTAINED UPON REQUEST.

MAY

FOR A

ALSO

REPORT BE

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