Government unveils revamp of patent system

Will undertake further development of Hong Kong’s patent system.

The government announced a series of changes intended to upgrade the patent system in Hong Kong. Among these changes are introducing an "original grant" patent system with substantive examination outsourced to other patent offices while retaining the current re-registration system; retaining the short-term patent system with suitable refinements and developing a full-fledged regulatory regime on patent agency services in the long-term.

It launched a comprehensive review of in October 2011 and conducted a public consultation to ensure the Hong Kong patent system continues to meet present-day circumstances and can facilitate the city’s development into a regional innovation and technology hub.

The Advisory Committee on the Review of the Patent System submitted a report to the government on the positioning of Hong Kong's patent system in December that has been accepted by the government.

The government supports the committee's strategic recommendations on the further development of Hong Kong’s patent system. It will continue discussions with the committee to work out the details of the implementation plan in the next phase.