ENG-1956 — Page 244

LAW AND ORDER

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porations establishing a place of business in the Colony do not have to pay this fee: they merely pay $5 fees on filing the documents required by Section 318 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32).

Trade Marks and Patents. The Trade Marks Ordinance, 1954, is based on the Trade Marks Act, 1938, but there are some variations.

During 1956 978 new trade marks were registered, and 140 marks that were on the old Register lost during the Japanese occupation were registered in the new Register in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Marks Register (Reconstruction) Ordinance. Registrations are valid for 7 years (14 years if registered prior to 1st January, 1955), but may be renewed indefinitely for further periods of 14 years. The number of marks on the Register is 12,825.

Hong Kong law does not provide for the original grant of patents, but patents registered in the United Kingdom are registrable under the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance (Cap. 42). This provides that the grantee of a patent in the United Kingdom may, within five years from the date of the issue of the patent, apply to have it registered in Hong Kong.

Bankruptcies and Liquidations. Ten bankruptcy petitions were filed, but one was withdrawn, leaving a net total of nine cases as against five in 1955. The Official Receiver was appointed Trustee in all cases except in the latest one in which a Receiving Order has not yet been made by the Court. One order was made for the compulsory winding-up of a Company, and the Official Receiver has been appointed Liquidator.

Marriages. All marriages except non-Christian customary marriages are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181). Under this, it is necessary for a notice of intended marriage to be exhibited at the Registry for 15 clear days, after which the Registrar issues a certificate which