Hong Kong's New Patent System Implemented on December 19 (2019-10)

According to the government news site of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong will introduce the original patent grant system for patent applicants to provide another way of seeking standard patent protection in Hong Kong. The amendments of Hong Kong's Patent Ordinance and Patent Rules became constitutionalized on October 11, 2019, and the new patent system came into effect on December 19, 2019.

Under the new system, patent applicants could file standard patent applications directly in Hong Kong. In doing so, they would no longer be limited to the "re-registration" system, which mandated a corresponding application to be filed first with a designated patent office outside Hong Kong.  The new patent system also optimizes the short-term patent system and prohibits the use of misleading or confusing titles or descriptions related to patent practice in Hong Kong.

 (Adapted from China News Network)