ENG-2006 — Page 149

Commerce and Industry 117

Technology and is working closely with the other Pan-PRD members to take forward the measures proposed in a planning study to foster Pan-PRD cooperation in science and technology for 2006-2010. The ITC also nominated entries for the 2006 State Science and Technology Awards and jointly organised a Hong Kong Pavilion with the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the 8th China Hi-Tech Fair held in Shenzhen in October 2006 to showcase Hong Kong's technological achievements.

Publicity and Promotional Events

The ITC organised the Innovation Festival 06 from October to December to foster an innovation and technology culture in the community, particularly among the youth. Under the theme of 'Youth Inspires... City of Innovation', the festival comprised a series of activities, including a Youth Innovation Exhibition, an invention competition, roadshows in five popular shopping malls and 120 technology and design workshops, which attracted over 60 000 participants. With the support of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the ITC established the Hong Kong Youth Innovation Club in October 2006 and organised the 2006 Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition to nurture a new generation of young innovators.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

Hong Kong is committed to maintaining a robust regime for protecting intellectual property rights. With its comprehensive legislation, convenient registration, vigorous enforcement and imaginative public education, Hong Kong has gained a well-earned reputation for effective protection of intellectual property.

Registration

With the implementation of various electronic services since 2003, intellectual property agents in Hong Kong may file applications on behalf of their clients anywhere in the world electronically in a secure and user-friendly environment on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis. Hong Kong's patent, registered design and trademark databases are available for search in Chinese or English through the Internet at any time, free of charge (http://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk).

In 2006, the Intellectual Property Department completed its launch of new interactive services. The interactive services enable instant approval for change of particulars of owners and agents of trademarks, patents and designs, extension of time of trademark applications and registration of assignments and assents for registered trademarks and trademark applications.

In 2006, 47 per cent of the applications for trademark registration were filed electronically (or 12 percentage points higher than 2005). As regards applications for patents and designs registration, the migration rate stood at 30 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

Trade Marks

The Trade Marks Registry is responsible for the registration of trade marks. In 2006, 22 994 applications were received, comprising 14 780 single-class applications