HKfiling code

Hong Kong

Trade Marks Registry, Intellectual Property Department

A separate register from mainland China, English-language, and fast — often the cheapest early filing for a group moving into the region.

Trademarks
System
First to file
Madrid Protocol
Confirm at filing
To registration
~6–9 months
Term
10 years, renewable
Patents & designs
PCT
Via China designation
Utility model
Short-term patent
Hague (designs)
Confirm at filing
Design term
5 years, renewable to 25

Standard patents can be obtained by re-registering a granted Chinese, European or UK patent, or through the original grant route. Short-term patents are quick and useful for products with a two-to-three year life.

What to watch in Hong Kong

Four things that decide whether the filing holds

  • 'China' does not include Hong Kong

    Nor Macau, nor Taiwan. A mainland registration gives you nothing here — a separate filing is required. This is the single most common assumption we correct.

  • English-language prosecution

    Filings and correspondence run in English, which keeps costs and turnaround down.

  • Worth doing early

    Low cost and quick examination make it a sensible first filing while the wider regional strategy is still being decided.

  • Customs recordal for transiting goods

    If product moves through the port, recordal is worth the fee.

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