Criteria for Ordinary Membership (Article 7)

Every candidate for election as an Ordinary Member shall be resident in Hong Kong and shall be not less than 21 years of age and shall comply with one of the following conditions:-

(a)
that he is a person on a Register of Patent Agents or Patent Attorneys or Trade Mark Agents or Trade Mark Attorneys in any relevant jurisdiction (as determined by the Council) and who has been practising trade mark law for at least two years of which at least six months practice has been in Hong Kong and a substantial part of which practice in Hong Kong has been in Hong Kong trade mark law; or
(b)
that he is a solicitor or barrister entitled to practice in Hong Kong and who has beenpractising trade mark law to a substantial extent for two or more years of which at least six months practice has been in Hong Kong and a substantial part of which practice in Hong Kong has been in Hong Kong trade mark law; or
(c)
that he is qualified by examination to practice trade mark law in any relevant jurisdiction (as determined by the Council) and who has been practising trade mark law to a substantial extent for two or more years of which at least six months practice has been in Hong Kong and a substantial part of which practice in Hong Kong has been in Hong Kong trade mark law; or
(d)
that he is a former official of the Hong Kong Trade Marks Registry with five or more years experience at the grade of “Assistant Registrar 1” or above as defined by the Hong Kong Government; or
(e)
that he has passed all Parts of the Institute’s Entrance Examination (“Certificate in Hong Kong Trade Mark Law and Practice” issued by the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong or any other such examination as may be decided from time to time by Council) and has worked in practice in Hong Kong for two or more years with a Founder Member or Ordinary Member who is wholly or principally engaged in the practice of Hong Kong trade mark law; or
(f)
that he has been practising trade mark law in Hong Kong to a substantial extent for at least five years and a substantial part of which practice in Hong Kong has been in Hong Kong trade mark law and who the Council may at their absolute discretion admit to membership.”

Criteria for Overseas Membership (Article 10C)

An Ordinary Member leaving Hong Kong may apply in writing to the Council for election as an Overseas Member.