Hong Kong Regulations

REGISTERED DESIGNS RULES - SECT 55

Information and inspection of documents

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) A request under section 70 of the Ordinance for information, or for
permission to inspect documents, relating to an application for registration
of a design or to a registered design shall be made on the specified form.

(2) Subject to sections 70 and 77 of the Ordinance and subsections

(4), (5), (5A) and (6), the Registrar shall permit the inspection of such
documents relating to a registered design as are specified in the request.
(L.N. 38 of 2004)

(3) Subject to sections 70 and 77 of the Ordinance and subsections

(4), (5), (5A) and (6), the Registrar shall permit the inspection of such
documents relating to an application for registration of a design as are
specified in the request if the person making the request files such evidence
as proves to the satisfaction of the Registrar- (L.N. 38 of 2004)

   (a)  that the owner or applicant (as the case may be) consents to the
        inspection; or

   (b)  that section 70(4) of the Ordinance applies in respect of the request.

(4) The Registrar shall not be obliged to permit the inspection of any
document under this section before he has completed every procedure, or every
stage in the procedure which is relevant to the document in question, which he
is required or permitted to carry out under the Ordinance or these Rules.
(L.N. 38 of 2004)

(5) The right of inspection under this section does not apply to-

   (a)  any document prepared in the Registry solely for use therein;

   (b)  any document sent to the Registry, whether at its request or
        otherwise, for inspection and subsequent return to the sender;

   (c)  any request for information under subsection (1); or

   (d)  any document issued by the Registry which the Registrar considers
        should be treated as confidential.

(5A) The right of inspection under this section extends only to documents and
information kept by the Registry. (L.N. 38 of 2004)

(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing on the Registrar
the duty of making available for public inspection-

   (a)  any document or part of a document which in his opinion disparages any
        person in a way likely to damage him; or

   (b)  any document filed with or sent to the Registry before the day
        appointed for the commencement of the Ordinance.