During 1994 to 2004, the number of patent applications rose from 1,640 to 10,421, representing an average annual growth of 20%, according to the latest monthly digest of statistics from the Census & Statistics Department.

A feature article, "Patent Statistics for Hong Kong, 1994 - 2004", said there are two types of patents in Hong Kong. Subject to payment of renewal fees, a standard patent has a protection term of up to 20 years, while a short-term patent's lasts only eight years.

Over half of Hong Kong's standard patent applications in 2004 originated from the United States (40%) and Japan (19%).

The article said in the same period, the total number of patents granted rose at an average annual rate of 12%, from 1,500 to 4,571. Analysed by place of origin of proprietors, the US accounted for 33% and Japan 22% of all standard patents granted in 2004.

The department said along with other science and technology statistical indicators, patents data can be regarded as a portrait of an economy's inventive activity as well as its rate and direction of technical change.

Two other feature articles in the September issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics are "Air Cargo Statistics" and "Analysis of the Change in the Total Fertility Rate".

Hong Kong's total fertility rate, which is the most common indicator to measure the fertility level, fell significantly in the past 30 years. Delays in marriage and childbearing, which led to a rise in older, unmarried women and curtailment of giving births, are believed to be the major reasons.

This article splits the total fertility rate changes into two components - the proportion of now-married females and marital fertility rate - to arrive at a clearer picture of how the rate change has evolved.

The article "Air Cargo Statistics" provides a detailed analysis of the air cargo statistics of Hong Kong from 1999 to 2004. Hong Kong International Airport continued to rank first in terms of international air cargo throughput among all airports in the world in 2004.

The September 2005 issue of the monthly digest of statistics is now on sale at $77 per copy. Published in bilingual form, it is a compact volume of official statistics containing more than 130 tables.

Both print version and download version can be purchased online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong". If purchased online, a 25% discount is offered for download versions and 15% discount for print versions. 

Print versions can be purchased through mail order by returning a completed order form downloaded from here. They can be bought in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD, 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. The phone number is 2582 3025. Print versions are also for sale at selected Post Offices. Call the hotline, 2921 2222, to find out if your branch carries it. 

Selected sections of the digest are available for purchase online. The digest's 13 sections are grouped into four:

* Population, Labour & Social Statistics;

* External Trade, Commerce & Industry and Energy Statistics;

* Housing, Transport, Communications & Tourism Statistics; and

* Money & Finance, National Income, Balance of Payments and Price Statistics.

Feature articles in each issue can be purchased separately. Selected sections and individual feature articles are only available in download versions. Feature articles are priced at $11 each and selected sections from $16 to $20 each.