Hong Kong Celebrates World Intellectual Property Day 2026 with Focus on IP's Economic Value and Development Initiatives

Hong Kong celebrates World Intellectual Property Day 2026

The Intellectual Property Department (IPD) today (April 21) hosted a reception to celebrate the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2026. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, attended the reception and officiated at the toasting ceremony.

In addressing the reception, Mr Chan highlighted the substantial economic value of IP in the region. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) now has close to 820 000 valid invention patents, representing nearly one-sixth of the national total.

Mr Chan said that the country fully supports Hong Kong's development as a regional IP trading centre, as reaffirmed in the National 15th Five-Year Plan. He underlined that in the Budget this year, the Government is advancing the IP agenda on three key fronts: strengthening the tax regime, promoting IP valuation and financing, as well as nurturing talent.

He highlighted that the Government completed the trade consultation on tax deductions for capital expenditure incurred on IP acquisitions. The aim is to amend the Inland Revenue Ordinance this year.

He also said that the Government has launched the IP Financing Sandbox, which allows stakeholders to experiment the full lifecycle of IP financing arrangements. Moreover, the Government supports the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre to launch a Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme to help SMEs establish the value of their patent assets, with reference to the national standards, or Guobiao.

Mr Chan also highlighted that on the talent front, the Government has allocated $52 million for a two-year pilot scheme to establish an IP Academy. The Academy will commence operations by the end of this year and will offer practical, on-the-job training aligned with the Qualifications Framework.

In his welcoming remarks, the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said that the Government is pioneering efforts in helping enterprises fully leverage their IPs for financing and commercialisation and promoting IP education by providing relevant training to working individuals from different sectors. He emphasised that the Government's sustained investment in fostering the development of IP is a key pillar for consolidating the development of a knowledge-based economy.

The World Intellectual Property Organization set the theme of this year's World IP Day as "IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!". Exhibits of the 15th National Games were displayed at the venue. They showcased the power and commercial value of IP, as demonstrated by the huge volume of sale of merchandise associated with the two official mascots that have attracted widespread attention across the GBA.

About 180 guests including stakeholders from the legal community and IP-related associations, academics, consulate representatives, government officials and representatives from the public and business sectors attended the reception.

Celebrated annually on April 26, the World IP Day aims to increase general understanding of IP, pay tributes to inventors and creators, and explore how IP helps shape the world. The IPD promoted the World IP Day and related activities through various channels, including sponsoring the "Licensing Academy" workshops of the Asian Licensing Conference to offer industry players insights into new developments in IP licensing.

Hong Kong celebrates World Intellectual Property Day 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong celebrates World Intellectual Property Day 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong celebrates World Intellectual Property Day 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units

Today (April 21) is the second day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Ten middle-zone floors of Wang Sun House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.

A total of 77 households (271 people) registered to return to their units today through the "one social worker per household" service, while 78 households (275 people) actually turned up (one household reported sick and absent yesterday joined the arrangement today). The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was one hour and 48 minutes, with the shortest time being 21 minutes and the longest three hours and 25 minutes. About 13 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour. A total of 14 households (34 people) went up and down the building more than once within three hours. Among them, eight households (23 people) made one additional trip, four households (eight people) made two additional trips, while one household (one person) made four additional trips, with the highest record of one person of one household making five additional trips and another making four additional trips.

The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received 11 cases of requesting police assistance and two cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort, as well as two cases seeking psychological counselling services.

The 11 cases of requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including camera, jewellery and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and lost property was recovered in four cases. In another four, the units concerned were severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. For the remaining three cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units and the residents could not provide details on the concerned property.

After reviewing the experience from the first day of arrangements, two adjustments have been made on site starting today:

(1) expanding the personal protective equipment donning area at Kwong Fuk Community Hall, adding more tables and chairs, and setting up more marquees for rain protection; and

(2) adding more tables and chairs in the resident waiting area at Tai Po Baptist Public School, and expanding the on-site storage area to facilitate residents while they wait for transport.

Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department, and the Housing Bureau, and staff mobilised from other departments, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members to fully support residents returning to their units.

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases