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Mrs Yu also appealed to parents that they should take early precaution for their children. They should participate in the new Student Health Service for timely health screening.

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Draft Patents Bill to protect inventions

A draft Patents Bill, which provides for a new patent system in Hong Kong for the protection of inventions, has been issued for consultation today (Thursday).

A government spokesman said: "The draft Patents Bill sets out the procedures for obtaining and maintaining patents in Hong Kong, the rights given to the owners and provisions for enforcement.

"It also includes provisions for short-term patents, also known as petty patents, which will protect inventions with a short-term commercial life.

"This will provide a new alternative form of protection for inventions for the many local businesses which make products with a short-term commercial life."

The spokesman noted that the existing patent law in Hong Kong relied on the United Kingdom patent law.

He said: "The existing patent system in Hong Kong is basically a system of protection in Hong Kong of a patent granted by the United Kingdom Patent Office or the European Patent Office designating the UK. To be protected, the overseas patents must be registered in Hong Kong.

"The proposed new patent system will provide for the grant of an independent patent in Hong Kong.

"The owner of a UK patent, a European patent designating the UK or a Chinese patent will be able to obtain a patent in Hong Kong based on the patents granted by authorities in these countries," he added.