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Kong and Guangdong under the 'Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation'.

The 'Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle' was an initiative set up by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments in May 2007 to promote exchange and collaboration in innovation and technology between the two sides. The three-year action plan (2009-2011) involved 24 co-operation projects which were implemented satisfactorily. The 'Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle' has enabled both sides to pull together their technological strengths and to create greater synergies.

Publicity and Promotional Events

The ITC held a massive publicity event called InnoTech Month in 2011 which featured a wide range of activities to foster a stronger innovation and technology culture in Hong Kong. The activities included roadshows, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, a large-scale carnival and conferences. The ITC also collaborated with non-profit-making organisations and government departments in organising science competitions to strengthen students' interest in innovation and technology. The Innovation and Technology Scholarship Award Scheme was also first organised in 2011 to provide recognition to outstanding science undergraduates in local universities and to encourage them to pursue innovation and technology as a lifelong career.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

Hong Kong maintains a robust regime for protecting intellectual property rights. With its comprehensive legislation, convenient registration systems, rigorous enforcement and imaginative public education, Hong Kong has gained a reputation for effective protection of intellectual property.

Registration

The Intellectual Property Department is committed to providing high-quality and responsive registration services to the public. The department provides various electronic services to enable efficient and cost-effective registration and management of trade marks, patents and registered designs. The registers of trade marks, patents and designs are maintained in electronic format, allowing searching of relevant data in Chinese or English through the Internet, at any time, free of charge (http://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk). The electronic filing system also provides a secure and user-friendly environment for intellectual property owners or agents to file their applications at any time (https://iponline.ipd.gov.hk).

By using the department's interactive services, owners of intellectual property rights or their agents can directly make changes to certain particulars of their registrations and applications recorded in the registers. These changes are updated instantly in the various registry records.

The electronic services, particularly electronic filing, have been well received. In 2011, over 50 per cent of trade marks, patents and designs applications respectively were filed electronically.