ENG-1954 — Page 217

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

lopment of the Colony's manufacturing industries continues. This is evident from the sustained increase in the number of registrations: During 1954 1,142 trade marks were registered, as against 1,006 in 1953, and 915 in 1952. In addition, 26 marks that had been on the pre-war Register-lost during the Japanese occupation—were registered in 1954 in the new Register under the Trade Marks Register (Re-construction) Ordinance. Registrations are valid for 14 years, and 250 registrations were renewed during 1954. At the close of the year there were 10,720 trade marks on the Register.

A new Trade Marks Ordinance, based generally on the United Kingdom Act of 1938, passed its final reading in the Legislative Council on 17th November, and came into operation on 1st January, 1955.

There is no original registration of patents in this Colony, but patents registered in the United Kingdom are registrable under the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance, which provides that the grantee of a patent in the United Kingdom may, within five years from the date of issue of the patent, apply to have it registered here. There were 134 patents on the Register on 31st December, 1954.

Marriage Registry

All marriages solemnized in the Colony, except non-Christian customary marriages, are contracted under the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance. Under this Ordinance there is no legal necessity for banns to be published, but the publication of notice, normally for a period of 15 clear days, is essential. The period may however be curtailed by a licence granted by the

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