HK to strengthen legal and IP frameworks

Hong Kong will strengthen its legal and intellectual property (IP) frameworks under the city’s first five-year plan, Chief Executive John Lee said on Wednesday, in a bid to support innovation and regional dispute resolution. Lee said Hong Kong, as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, would continue to improve its litigation, arbitration and mediation services. "We will also promote the convergence of rules and protocols in the Greater Bay Area so that Hong Kong becomes the capital of mediation," he said. Turning to IP, Lee said the government would improve the city’s IP regime and push ahead with patent-system reforms to support innovation. "For original grant patents, we want to provide more facilitation arrangement so that we build up the capacity in the examination services in terms of original grant patent," he said. Lee added that an IP academy would also be established to nurture talent. Edited by Tony Sabine