Hong Kong Regulations

PATENTS (GENERAL) RULES - SECT 24

Rectification of deficiencies in request documents

(1) If on examination of a request for registration and grant under section
26(1) of the Ordinance he notes that there are deficiencies in the request
which may be corrected, the Registrar shall inform the applicant by notice
accordingly and shall invite him to remedy the deficiencies within a period of
2 months from the date of such notice.

(2) The Registrar may, upon request by the applicant presented before the
expiry of such period and payment of the prescribed fee, grant an extension of
that period for a further 2 months.

(3) If in any particular case the Registrar is satisfied that the applicant's
failure to remedy the deficiencies within the period allowed under subsection
(1) or (2) was wholly or mainly attributable to-

   (a)  a failure or undue delay in the postal services in Hong Kong or in the
        country, territory or area of the designated patent office; or

   (b)  any natural disaster or strike in Hong Kong or in the country,
        territory or area of the designated patent office, the Registrar may
        grant such further extension of that period, not exceeding 2 months,
        as he considers reasonable.

(4) If the only deficiency in the request for registration and grant after the
expiry of the periods specified in subsections (1), (2) and (3) (as may be
applicable) is the failure to file a translation of the title of invention as
referred to in section 56(2)(a) and (b) or a transliteration of the names of
the applicant or inventor as referred to in section 56(2)(c), the Registrar
may, on the request of the applicant, allow for a specified period within
which the applicant may make good that deficiency on the payment of a penalty
fee.