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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

provides for the eventual replacement of non-metric units by SI units in all legislation in Hong Kong. Most government departments are now using metric units exclusively.

A Metrication Committee, consisting of representatives of industry, commerce, manage- ment and consumer affairs, and government officials appointed by the Governor, is the focal point of liaison on all matters concerning metrication. It advises and encourages the commercial and industrial sectors in the framing of their metrication programmes. Con- siderable progress has now been made in the adoption of metric units in the private sector.

Trade Marks and Patents

The Trade Marks Registry, which is a sub-division of the Commercial Division of the Registrar General's Department, is a registry of original registration. Trade marks are registered under the Trade Marks Ordinance, the provisions of which are similar to trade marks legislation in the United Kingdom. The procedure in applying for registration is laid down in the Trade Marks Rules, and the prescribed forms may be obtained free from the Trade Marks Registry, Registrar General's Department. Every mark, even if already registered in the United Kingdom or any other country, must satisfy all the requirements of the Trade Marks Ordinance before it may be accepted for registration. During 1988, 8 956 applications were received and 4 075, including many made in previous years, were accepted and allowed to be advertised. A total of 4 360 marks were registered in 1988, compared with 3 460 in 1987. The principal countries of origin were: Hong Kong, 1063; United States of America, 977; Japan, 383; United Kingdom 348; France, 296; West Germany, 285; Italy, 210; Switzerland, 148; Australia, 79; Taiwan, 79. The total number of marks on the register at December 31, 1988 was 51 493.

Unlike the Trade Marks Registry, the Patents Registry, which is another sub-division of the Commercial Division of the Registrar General's Department, is not a registry of original registration. The Registration of Patents Ordinance provides that any grantee of a United Kingdom patent or European Patent (UK) may, within five years from the date of its grant, apply to have the patent registered in Hong Kong.

A total of 1 070 patents were registered in this way during the year, compared with 1 020 in 1987. Registration of a United Kingdom patent or European Patent (UK) in Hong Kong confers on the grantee the same privileges and rights as if the patent had been granted in the United Kingdom with an extension to Hong Kong. The privileges and rights run from the commencement of the term of the patent in the United Kingdom, and continue as long as the patent remains in force there.

Companies Registry

The Companies Registry of the Registrar General's Department keeps records of all companies incorporated in Hong Kong and of all overseas companies that have established a place of business in Hong Kong.

Local companies are incorporated under the Companies Ordinance, which was originally based, to a large extent, on the Companies Act 1929 - formerly in force in Britain but now replaced by various statutes culminating in the Companies Act 1985. However, following recommendations made by the Companies Law Revision Committee (June 1971 and April 1973), several parts of the Companies Ordinance - notably those dealing with prospectuses, accounts and audit – were amended and now incorporate most of the relevant provisions of the Companies Acts of 1948 and 1967. Most of the remainder of the recommendations in the committee's second report are given effect in the lengthy Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 1984, which was enacted in January and came into force on August 31, 1984.

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