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- External Commercial Relations
- Industry and Business Support
- Intellectual Property
- Inward Investment Promotion
- Tourism
- Consumer Protection
- Promotion of Competition
- Cargo Customs Facilitation
- Government Electronic Trading Services
- Trade Single Window
- Meteorological Services
- Postal Services
- Wine Business
- United Nations Security Council Sanctions
To promote innovation, technology development and exchange, and trade and investment, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is fully committed to upholding a robust and effective system of intellectual property (IP) protection, which covers patents, copyright, trade marks, designs, plant varieties, and layout-design of integrated circuits. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the World Economic Forum, Hong Kong is ranked the 5th among 141 economies worldwide in terms of IP protection.
We update our IP laws from time to time to meet Hong Kong’s prevailing social and economic needs. For example, the new “original grant patent” system was launched on 19 December 2019. We are also pressing ahead with the implementation of the Madrid Protocol concerning international registration of marks.
Hong Kong’s IP regime is independent of that of the Mainland of China. Articles 139 and 140 of the Basic Law specifically provide that Hong Kong should, by its own laws, protect achievements in scientific and technological research, patents, discoveries and inventions, as well as achievements and the lawful rights and interests of authors in their literary and artistic creation.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government) recognises a number of international treaties, conventions, and agreements, which set out the standards, requirements, and obligations for different types of IP right (IPR) protection. Hong Kong is also a signatory to the World Trade Organization's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement. Hong Kong's IPR regime is fully compatible with our international obligations and conforms to international standards on the protection of IPR.
The Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch assumes, among others, policy responsibility for IPR within the Government. The Branch is assisted by the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) in executive functions such as registration of patents, designs, and trade marks, and by the Customs and Excise Department in IP enforcement.
The statutory Copyright Tribunal adjudicates disputes on copyright royalties payable to copyright licensing bodies.
Intellectual property trading
IP commercialisation is important to the continuous development of a knowledge-based economy. Like other advanced economies, Hong Kong is capitalising on IP as a new growth area, and developing the IP industry into a vibrant sector that helps boost the economy and create job opportunities.
We are working in full swing to further promote Hong Kong as an IP trading hub in the region. Major initiatives include the annual Business of IP Asia Forum, as well as free IP Consultation Service and the IP Manager Scheme, which are tailor-made for small and medium enterprises.
We welcome traders and investors from around the world to make use of Hong Kong as a hub for IP trading, or set up business here to tap the thriving IP markets in Mainland China and beyond.
Hong Kong – The IP Trading Hub, a website launched by IPD, provides one-stop access to information on Hong Kong as an IP trading hub.
Related Information
Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2022
- Full text of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2022
- Legislative Council Brief
- Press Release
- Other Information
- Public Consultation on Updating Hong Kong’s Copyright Regime (November 2021 to February 2022)
- Written Submissions
- Paper for the Panel on Commerce and Industry of the Legislative Council (April 2022)
- Legislative Council Brief of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014
- Latest version of the draft Code of Practice for Online Service Providers (March 2012)
Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2020
- Full text of the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2020
- Legislative Council Brief of Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2019
- Press Release
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Information
Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014
- Full text of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014
- Legislative Council Brief
- Keynote of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014
- Press Release
- Papers and Reports relating to the Bills Committee of the Legislative Council on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 are available on the website of the Legislative Council : https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/english/bc/bc106/general/bc106.htm.
- Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Gregory So, SCED's Articles (Only available in Chinese)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Information
Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011
- Full text of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011
- Legislative Council Brief
- Papers and Reports relating to the Bills Committee of the Legislative Council on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011 are available on the website of the Legislative Council : http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/bc/bc10/general/bc10.htm.
- Consultation on the draft Code of Practice for Online Service Providers (August to September 2011)
- Second Public Consultation on the draft Code of Practice for Online Service Providers (January to March 2012)
Trade Marks (Amendment) Ordinance 2020
- Full text of the Trade Marks (Amendment) Ordinance 2020
- Legislative Council Brief of Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 2019
- Press Release
- Papers and Reports relating to the Bills Committee of the Legislative Council on the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 2019 are available on the website of the Legislative Council : https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr18-19/english/bc/bc07/general/bc07.htm.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Information
Last revision date:
20 December 2021