Policy Address

Regional Intellectual Property Trading Centre

53. The Government will develop Hong Kong into a regional IP trading centre by leveraging the institutional advantages of Hong Kong's legal and IP protection system. We will:

1. strengthen protection of IP rights – We plan to achieve the following targets next year: to complete the preparatory work for implementing the international trademark registration system; to secure passage of the amendment bill to the Copyright Ordinance to strengthen copyright protection in the digital environment; and to roll out a pilot project with the China National Intellectual Property Administration to enable Hong Kong applicants to enjoy prioritised examination of qualified patent applications in the Mainland. Our medium-term goal is to conduct a review of the registered designs regime in 2024. We will also enhance the substantive examination capability of patent examiners under the original grant patent system and develop a talent pool, with a view to acquiring institutional autonomy in conducting substantive patent examination by 2030;

2. build capacity – Our target is to provide IP training for 5 000 personnel across different industries within the current-term of the Government; and

3. promote widely – We will promote Hong Kong's IP trading and professional services through various activities, including the HKTDC's Business of IP Asia Forum organised annually. The HKTDC will also enhance its Asia IP Exchange portal next year to facilitate different sectors to further explore commercial opportunities in IP trading.