TNAG-2890-FCO40-4162-Reform-and-localisation-of-the-Hong-Kong-Patent-System-1993 — Page 48

CODE 18-77

Miss Barrett,

Legal Advisers

RECT

370/20

Reference

*STRY

1993

CISTRY

on Taken

HONG KONG: PATENTS REFORM

•

I attach copies of an exchange of correspondence with the Patent Office concerning the future and development of Hong Kong's patent law. I should be grateful if you could answer a number of questions which have been raised;

i) does the Patents Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (attached) permit a contracting state to nominate more than one receiving office (Mrs Ip's letter of 27 May). I suspect not.

ii) can Hong Kong become a contracting party to the PCT (Mrs Sullivan's letter of 17 June), surely not.

iii) whether Hong Kong can become a branch office of the UK patent Office and if so whether it need then use International Search Authorities and International

Preliminary Examination Authorities other than those used by the UK.

2. I should be grateful for a reply to these questions by 8 July if possible.

PA3But

RAJ Bunten

WH 305 270-2655

qu Time 1499

9 July 1992

8