Hong Kong Trademark Information

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, located on the southern coast of China. The population is estimated at 7,055,000 with a GDP of $293.31 billion.

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Trademarks are assigned through the Intellectual Property Department under the supervision of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.

A trade mark shall not be registered if it is:

• the shape that results from the nature of the goods themselves;
• the shape of goods that is necessary to obtain a technical result; or
• the shape that gives substantial value to the goods.
• contrary to accepted principles of morality; or
• likely to deceive the public.
• its use is prohibited in Hong Kong under or by virtue of any law; or
• the application for registration of the trade mark is made in bad faith.
• the national flag or its design;
• the national emblem or its design;
• the regional flag or its design; or
• the regional emblem or its design.