Working Report of
Legislative Councilor Samson Tam Wai Ho
(Information Technology)

(Dec 2011)

中文

I. Focus Updates

1. Three suggestions to the Financial Secretary on the Budget

The Financial Secretary will deliver his last Budget Speech on 1 Feb 2012. To this end, I made 3 suggestions to the Government on the Budget in mid December, namely:

1. to set up a total of HK$ 2 billion for the " Research Fund for the Professional Fields", equally allocated in for the areas of health and environmental protection. The fund is to be made available for local universities to apply;

2. to formulate supporting policies and measures, including optimization of "R & D Cash Rebate Scheme" and setting up of a "Training Programme for the Local R&D Professionals", with a view to attracting mainland enterprises to establish their international R&D centers in Hong Kong;

3. to include courses of information and communications in the scope of the Continuing Education Fund (CEF), and also increase funding to the CEF.

2. Hosting a forum to discuss the role of Hong Kong as an IP and Technology Transfer Centre

My office hosted a round-table conference on the topic of "Reviewing Hong Kong’s Patent System and Hong Kong as an IP and Technology Transfer Centre" on 7 December. More than 30 professionals attended the conference and took part in the discussion on the topic. Mr. Peter KF CHEUNG, the Director of Intellectual Property Department, introduced the current patent system and pointed out 3 issues needed to be covered in the review: viz, 1. Should Hong Kong set up an Original Grant Patent System? 2. Should we retain or strengthen the Short-Term Patent System? 3. Should we regulate the patent agency service, and how? One of our guest speakers, Dr. Gordeon McConnachie, the founding chairman of the Scottish Intellectual Assets Centre, analyzed the issues from a global view that, if Hong Kong is going to become a regional hub of innovation and technology, we must know how to manage the Knowledge Capital and have a policy that supports commercialization of technology.

3. Discussion at the Commerce and Industry Panel meeting on the latest development of industrial estates

The latest development of industrial estates and review of R&D centres were discussed at the Commerce and Industry Panel meeting in December. The officials of the Innovation and Technology Commission stated that while the revitalization of the existing industrial estates could provide some land for the short to medium term, the Government will continue to expand current industrial estates and explore new ones to assist the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to look for new supply so as to promote development of new high technology industry in Hong Kong. I hope the Government can provide assistance and support not only on land but also on policies and resources, thus creating a better environment for development of innovation and technology industry in Hong Kong.

4. IR (Amendment) (No.2) Bill Passed at the LegCo

The IRO has been amended to provide for deduction of capital expenditure incurred by businesses on the purchase of a copyright, registered design or registered trade mark so as to encourage wider use of corporate intellectual property.

II. Articles Sharing (Chinese Only)

1. 旅客數碼新體驗
   《星島日報》
   2012年1月19日
   

2. 粵港競賽與合作
   《星島日報》
   2012年1月12日
   

3. 昨天　今天　明天
   《星島日報》
   2012年1月5日