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The spokesman said: "The draft Patents

said: "The draft Patents Bill largely follows the recommendations made by the Patents Steering Committee in its Report issued in May

1993.

"It also reflects the agreement reached in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group in November 1995."

The draft Patents Bill has been issued to concerned parties in the industrial, professional and academic fields for their comments before its introduction into the Legislative Council.

The consultation period will last until early March and the Bill is expected to be introduced into the Legislative Council during the current Legislative Session.

End

School placement help for Chinese immigrant children

The Education Department has set up a team at its headquarters to help newly arrived immigrant children from China find a place in Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools.

The central placement team, comprising three principal education officers and a secretary, will serve Chinese immigrant children who have difficulties in finding a school place in their district of residence.

The three principal education officers from the department's Schools Division are in charge of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories regions respectively.

The Assistant Director of Education (Schools), Mr Kwan Shu-tsun, noted that in the past, immigrant children who could not find a school place from a particular District Education Office had to be referred to another District Education Office, which would take some time.

The problem usually happened with those looking for secondary school places, of which there were comparatively fewer, he said.