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The public is invited to vote for the "most wanted inventions" in the 21st century.

The appeal was made by the Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Peter Cheung, in a press conference cum first stage prize presentation ceremony on "The Most Wanted Inventions in the 21st Century" Competition today (March 30).

The first part of the competition was launched in last November to invite for innovative ideas and has attracted a total of 628 entries in five categories, namely, "Best Market Potentials", "Most Environmental-friendly", "Best for Household Use", "Best for Children" and "Best for the Working Population".

Members of the judging panel for the initial competition included Legislative Council member Dr Lui Ming-wah; Chairman of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Society, Dr Ho Tao; Managing Director of John Manufacturing Limited, Dr Yuen Se-kit; CEO of Signal Communication Ltd, Dr Chan Chok-ki; Lecturer of the Bio-Chemistry Department, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr Tso Wung-wai; Chairman of the Hong Kong Inventors Association, Mr Cheung King-fung; and Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Peter Cheung.

Mr Cheung said, "The ten winning entries from each category were selected according to their creativity, practicability and presentation, and were shortlisted for this second part of public voting."

"This second part is a sequel of a similar activity 'The Most Popular Inventions in the 20th Century Among Hong Kong People' launched in 1999, to arouse public concern on the protection of intellectual property rights."

Voting forms are now available at the headquarters of the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), the Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department, and government public libraries. The form can also be downloaded from IPD's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/ipd/).

Completed voting forms could be returned to any one of the Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department or mailed to Fok & Chan CPA Firm at Room 904-8, 9/F, Kai Tak Commercial Building, 317-319 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong by May 31, 2001. Each person can only return one voting form.

Winners of each category as well as an overall champion will each receive a prize with value not less than $10,000. Voters for the winning entries will have a chance to win gift coupon of $2,000.

Winners of the first part of the competition, i.e. whose entries have been selected for the public voting, were awarded a gift coupon of $500 for each entry at today's prize presentation ceremony.

The winners are Chan Hoi-yi, Wong Chi-wan, Wong Chun-yin, Law Siu-wah, Chu Ka-wai, Lee Suet-chung, Cheung Kwok-ning, Lo Sau-mai, Fung Yin-fun, Lee Kwok-kin, Lok King-yu, Pang Wan-yu, Au Kei-cheong, Mok Lai-ming, Wong Pik-fung, Chan Ka-wing, Cheng Pak-lai, Lai Mun-chung, So Chi-chee, Chu Chuen-sing, Chung Ka-lun, Fung Man, Fung Yuk-ying, Yuen Shuk-ching, Yeung Sze-man, Ng Siu-fung, Ko Kam-kwong, Cheung Kwok-ning, Fong Fu-kin, Poon Hoi-ling, Wong Sai-wing, Mok Sau-luen, Cheung Ya-fong.

The competition is jointly organised by the Intellectual Property Department, the Hong Kong Inventors Association and the Summer Youth Programme Committee.

End/Friday, March 30, 2001

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