Message of Founder

Africa, one of the birthplaces of ancient humans and civilizations, was once referred to as the “Dark Continent,” a backward region plagued by disease and famine.

The African continent is vast, covering a total area of approximately 30 million square kilometers, making it the second largest continent in the world. Africa is bisected by the equator and is uniquely positioned across the eastern, western, southern, and northern hemispheres, with its northernmost and southernmost points almost equidistant from the equator. Its area is roughly equivalent to the combined sizes of China, the United States, India, Japan, Mexico, and Europe.

Over the past few decades, international organizations have allocated substantial subsidies and donations to aid Africa’s development. With increasing political stability and steady economic growth, many African countries have emerged from extreme poverty in recent years. In 2024, Africa’s economic growth rate was approximately 3.2%. Investment bankers predict that if the current growth rate continues, Africa’s economy could surpass the combined economies of the United States and Europe by 2050.

Most African countries are classified as low income and underdeveloped. Many of these nations benefit from the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), allowing most of their goods to be exported to EU countries tariff free and without quotas. As a result, many multinational corporations have shifted their future investment focus to Africa.

Africa’s population is over 1.5 billion, and with a significant reduction in neonatal mortality rates in recent years, nearly half of its population is under 20 years old. This demographic represents a valuable resource for economic development. The United Nations estimates that Africa’s total population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Present day Africa is akin to Asia in the 1970s, in the initial stages of economic takeoff, and the coming decades will present golden opportunities for growth. The African Development Bank predicts that by 2050, the continent’s middle class will number 1 billion people.

Since Chairman Xi Jinping proposed the economic strategic concept of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, a high level transnational economic belt has been formed, encompassing not only Central Asia and neighboring countries of China but also Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and numerous African nations. This initiative has brought golden opportunities for economic development to countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa, which are in urgent need of financial resources.

Economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa began in the 1950s. Over the past seventy years, the scale of Sino African economic and trade cooperation has gradually expanded, and the areas of collaboration have continuously broadened. Initially, Sino African cooperation focused primarily on trade and aid to Africa. Currently, the cooperation is undergoing transformation and upgrading, moving towards industrial alignment, capacity cooperation, and technology transfer. The collaboration is shifting from a contract based model to one that emphasizes investment operations and financial cooperation. Since the establishment of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, bilateral trade and investment relations have developed rapidly. In 2024, the total trade volume between China and Africa reached nearly $295 billion, with China remaining Africa’s largest trading partner for the 15th consecutive year. Sino African cooperation now contributes over 20% to Africa’s economic growth.

As African countries continue to lift themselves out of poverty and develop their economies, it is believed that Africa will inevitably become one of the world’s major economic powers in the near future. As Africa emerges as a significant global economy, the demand for intellectual property rights will undoubtedly increase. It is essential to establish a robust intellectual property system early on to avoid hindering economic development due to the lack of such a framework.

At the opening ceremony of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, Chairman Xi Jinping stated, “The ocean does not refuse water, and thus it becomes vast. China is the world’s largest developing country, and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing nations. China and Africa have long been a community with a shared future, bound together in times of prosperity and adversity. We are willing to work hand in hand with the African people, building a closer China Africa community with a shared future, and setting an example for the construction of a global community with a shared future for mankind.”

With the implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, economic and cultural exchanges between China and countries along the Belt and Road, as well as African nations, will become increasingly frequent. Africa serves as a key destination for the westward expansion of China’s Belt and Road strategy. China’s talent, capital, and technology play a crucial role in driving Africa’s economic development. Investing in the development of the Belt and Road and Africa is a vital component of Chairman Xi Jinping’s global economic development strategy. It aligns the rapidly growing Chinese economy with the national interests of countries along the Belt and Road and in Africa, paving the way for mutual development, shared prosperity, and win win cooperation.

Wong Kam Fu        
Founder and Vice Chairman    
China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited   
fu@12268341.com      

The Belt and Road and Africa’s Path to Revival

Since Chairman Xi Jinping proposed the economic strategic concept of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, six major economic cooperation corridors and multiple maritime strategic nodes have been planned, covering not only Eurasia but also extending to Africa. The Belt and Road economic strategy has strengthened trade and fostered mutual trust among nations, using economic development to eliminate security threats faced by countries along the route, including China itself, and creating a new model of “win win cooperation.”

Over the past decade, Africa has experienced unprecedented rapid development, and its future growth momentum remains promising. Africa is a major global supplier of natural resources, with oil reserves accounting for 7.2% of the world’s total and gold reserves making up 40% of the global supply. Additionally, it is a critical source of many other precious metals.

To align with the national strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative and the push into Africa, I propose the following recommendations:

『Intellectual Property Communism』

Currently, many third world countries lack a well established intellectual property (IP) system. Even in countries where an intellectual property system has been established, the majority of the population has little understanding of intellectual property, rendering the system ineffective. In these third world countries, domestic companies and citizens account for a very small proportion of patent and trademark applicants. Most applicants are foreigners and foreign enterprises, primarily from developed countries such as the United States, Europe, and Japan. As a result, third world countries struggle to use the intellectual property system to promote local technological and economic development. Developed countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan already dominate the global discourse on resources and have exploited third world nations through various unfair means, extracting vast amounts of wealth. They further exploit these underdeveloped regions using the intellectual property system, seizing the fruits of their hard earned progress, which is one of the reasons for the persistent poverty in third world countries.

For a long time, the United States has ostensibly protected intellectual property through three international patent treaties: the Patent Law Treaty (PLT), the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT), and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In reality, however, the U.S. has used this “Trilogy of International Patent Treaties” to advance its hegemony and exploit the resources of less developed nations. By imposing exorbitant licensing fees under the guise of patents, the U.S. has driven up production costs, placing a heavy burden on manufacturers and consumers in poorer countries.

For many years, the U.S. consistently ranked first in the number of patent applications worldwide, a position it held until China surpassed it in 2011. Despite having a population of only around 340 million, the U.S. has been the largest economy and the biggest trade market since World War II. As a result, companies worldwide must file patents in the U.S. to protect their economic interests there.

Currently, third world countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have a combined population of approximately 5 billion. As their economies gradually develop, the economic scale of these 5 billion people will inevitably surpass that of developed countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan, which have a combined population of about 1 billion. China began its reform and opening up in the 1980s, and its economy has grown rapidly, making it one of the world’s major economic powers today. Many third world countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are now learning from China’s reform experience and gradually developing their economies. It is believed that over the next few decades, the focus of global economic development will shift from developed countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan to third world nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which will undoubtedly become the world’s largest economies and trade markets. As the future’s largest economic entities, the demand for patent applications will inevitably increase. It is essential to establish a robust intellectual property system early on to avoid hindering economic development due to the lack of such a framework.

Since its reform and opening up, China has experienced the bitter consequences of exploitation by developed countries and has worked hard to achieve its current success. China can help third world countries break free from the exploitation of developed nations by uniting with them, including all 54 African countries, to stand together against developed countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Only then can the people of the third world enjoy the fruits of their hard work and development. By forming a unified intellectual property alliance with third world countries, China can gain a stronger voice in international intellectual property rules and counteract the exploitation of less developed nations through international patent treaties by developed countries like the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

The current European Patent Convention (EPC) and the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO)provide their member states with a unified patent system. Through a single patent application process including submission, search, examination, and grant applicants can obtain patent protection in all member states simultaneously. This system simplifies application procedures, reduces costs, and avoids discrepancies in approval results due to varying national regulations.

The European patent system currently operates on a dual track model. Applicants can either file a comprehensive patent application with the European Patent Office (EPO) or choose to file separate applications under the national patent laws of individual member states. The advantage of the European patent system is that it allows applicants to designate multiple countries through a single application. However, the system does not adopt a unified language. After a patent is granted, it must be translated into the official languages of the designated member states. This can lead to inconsistencies in the interpretation of the same patent across different countries due to translation issues. Additionally, while the EPO uses English, French, and German as its official languages, some member states require patents to be translated into their local languages, such as Italian or Spanish. The combined costs of translation, high application fees, and maintenance fees make the overall expense of filing a European patent five times higher than filing in the U.S. and three times higher than filing in Japan.

The dual track system reflects the reluctance of member states to fully commit to a single patent system. The European patent system is merely a simplified procedure and does not entirely replace the national patent application processes of member states. As a result, member states retain a significant portion of their original intellectual property resources, leaving the EPO with insufficient capacity to handle the large volume of applications. Many European patent applications remain unresolved for over a decade, making the EPO one of the least efficient major patent offices in the world.

At the opening ceremony of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Chairman Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled “Openness Creates Prosperity, Innovation Leads the Future.” He announced a series of major new measures China would take to further open up, including “strengthening intellectual property protection. China will restructure the State Intellectual Property Office, enhance law enforcement capabilities, increase the intensity of enforcement, and significantly raise the cost of violations. China will protect the legitimate intellectual property rights of foreign enterprises operating in the country and hopes that foreign governments will also strengthen the protection of Chinese intellectual property.” Chairman Xi Jinping emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative originated in China, but its opportunities and achievements belong to the world. As long as all parties adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, the Belt and Road can become the most extensive international cooperation platform aligned with the trend of economic globalization.

To embody the spirit of international communism and deepen international cooperation in intellectual property, it is proposed that China take the lead in uniting third world countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America (including all 54 African nations) to initiate an intellectual property revolution. This would establish the world’s first “Intellectual Property Communism” framework: the CAL Intellectual Property Alliance (CALIPA). This alliance would integrate the diverse patent systems of member states into a comprehensive and unified patent system. The CALIPA would handle all aspects of the patent process application, examination, grant, maintenance, and litigation under a centralized framework. Member states would no longer be allowed to establish their own patent systems, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of the European dual track model. Furthermore, a unified system would eliminate discrepancies in patent approvals caused by differing national regulations and examination standards, streamline application procedures, and significantly reduce operational costs. This would benefit both applicants and member states alike.

The CALIPA could fully adopt China’s patent system, with Chinese as the exclusive legal language for the patent system. Only patents granted by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) would be recognized and enforced within the member states of the CALIPA. Using Chinese as the exclusive legal language for the patent system would prevent errors that may arise from translating application documents into different languages, which could otherwise affect the scope of patent claims.

Under the CALIPA, a specialized agency called the CAL Patent Office (CALPO) would be established to handle patent registration. Patents already granted in China could be re-registered as CALIPA patents, extending their protection from China to all member states. Holders of Chinese patents could submit their granted patents, without any modifications, to the CALPO for registration. The CALPO would then append the suffix “CAL”(C: China, A: Africa, L: Latin America) to the original Chinese patent number, creating a unified CALIPA patent number. Moving forward, member states would no longer accept individual patent applications, while existing patents would remain valid. To obtain an CALIPA patent, applicants must first file with the CNIPA. Once granted, they can register with the CALPO and pay the required fees to secure protection across all member states.

Example:
A holder of the Chinese patent ZL201520377130.7 could re-register their granted patent with the CALPO. The CALPO would then assign the CALIPA patent number ZL201520377130.7.CAL.

The United States is currently a leading inventor and industrial powerhouse, boasting advanced patented technologies. Filing a patent in the U.S. prevents others from using the patented technology to manufacture and sell products in the U.S. without permission. However, patent protection is territorial. According to the Paris Convention, a patent granted in one country is only valid within that country’s jurisdiction and has no legal effect in other countries. For example, U.S. patent technologies lose their protection when used in third world countries like those in Africa. To secure protection in Africa, the same technology must also be patented there.

Over the next few decades, as economies develop, Asia, Africa, and Latin America are poised to become the world’s largest economies and trade markets. Relying solely on U.S. patents will no longer provide sufficient protection for businesses. Conversely, if a technology is only patented in the CALIPA and not in the U.S., the technology will be disclosed upon application, preventing others from patenting it anywhere in the world. Therefore, even without a U.S. patent, products manufactured using the patented technology can still be sold in the U.S. without issue, as long as they are cost competitive and affordable.

The ultimate goal of filing patents is to generate profit. While the U.S. has a population of over 300 million, Asia, Africa, and Latin America collectively have a population of 5 billion. In the future, filing patents in regions with large populations, vast markets, and low manufacturing costs such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America will be sufficient. There will be little need to file patents in the U.S.

To expedite the operational readiness of the CALPO, its operations can be outsourced to China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited (website: www.cpahkltd.com). This company was founded by Mr. Wong Kam Fu, a pioneer in China’s patent industry. As early as the 1980s, when China had not yet implemented its patent law, Wong Kam Fu partnered with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to establish China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited in Hong Kong, the first patent agency in China. As the first Chinese patent enterprise, the company has accumulated 41 years of experience in intellectual property operations and has trained a large number of outstanding professionals for China’s intellectual property industry. By outsourcing the operations of the CALPO to China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, a robust patent system can be rapidly established for all member states of the CALIPA.

There is a significant positive correlation between patent systems and economic growth. The larger the economic scale, the more effective the patent system becomes. As the world’s largest economy, China must be the founding nation of the CALIPA to maximize its utility, enabling member states to benefit from the economic growth facilitated by a well established patent system. At its inception, the CALIPA should include at least one Asian country, one African country, and one Latin American country as initial members. Over time, other third world countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America can be invited to join, with the ultimate goal of uniting all third world nations into the CALIPA, making it the world’s largest unified patent alliance.

The CALPO can generate substantial revenue through patent annuity fees. The fee structure can be determined based on the number of member states. In the initial stages, when the number of member states is small, fees can be set at a lower level. As more countries join, the fees can be gradually increased. Additionally, to encourage companies worldwide to register their patents early, the annuity fee level can be locked in at the time of the patent’s initial registration. This means that even if fees are raised as more countries join, the fees for already registered patents will remain unchanged. This approach will incentivize companies to register their patents with the CALPO as early as possible, as earlier registrations will incur lower costs and offer greater cost effectiveness.

After deducting operational costs, the net profits of the CALPO can be distributed among member states based on their respective GDP. In the initial phase, due to the limited number of member states, each member can receive a larger share of the net profits. The earlier a country joins the CALIPA, the sooner it can benefit from profit sharing. When new third world countries join the alliance, the patents already registered will gain protection in more member states, incentivizing companies to register their patents early. As the number of registered patents increases, the profit share for member states will also grow, encouraging more third world countries to join the alliance. Through this mutually reinforcing approach, the CALIPA can rapidly expand and achieve the grand vision of “Intellectual Property Communism.”

Currently, patent fees vary significantly across countries. For example, annual fees for invention patents in high cost regions include:

- European Union: €690 to €1,775 per year

- Germany: €70 to €2,030 per year

- France: €38 to €800 per year

- United Kingdom: £70 to £610 per year

In contrast, lower cost regions include the United States and China. In the U.S., the average annual patent fee is approximately $500 (about 3,000 RMB), while in China, the average annual fee is around 4,700 RMB.

The CALPO can generate substantial revenue through patent annuity fees. In addition to adjusting fees annually based on the number of member states, the fee structure can be tiered according to the patent owner’s assets or revenue:

1. Discounted Fees: Symbolic fees for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses within member states.

2. Standard Fees: Fees covering administrative costs for businesses within member states.

3. Profit Based Fees: Higher fees aimed at generating significant revenue for the CALPO, targeting foreign enterprises and individuals from non member states. These fees could be 10 times or more than the standard fees.

Furthermore, patent annuity fees can be scaled based on a company’s assets and revenue. Larger multinational corporations, which earn substantial profits from third world countries, would pay higher fees as a form of contribution. It is estimated that these multinational corporations could generate hundreds of billions in revenue for the CALPO annually.

In addition to the patent system, the CALIPA can adopt China’s Trademark Law and Copyright Law, applying them to member states in the same manner as the patent system. Specialized agencies, the CAL Trademark Office (CALTO) and the CAL Copyright Office (CALCO), can be established. The operations of these offices can also be outsourced to China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, enabling the rapid establishment of comprehensive trademark and copyright systems across all CALIPA member states.

A well established intellectual property system will attract large enterprises and technology companies worldwide to register their patents and trademarks with the CALPO and CALTO, preparing them to enter the markets of CALIPA member states.For example, luxury brands like France’s LV handbags, which earn billions of RMB annually in China, would be willing to pay higher fees to register their trademarks with the CALTO to prevent smaller companies from preemptively registering their brands.

Under the CALIPA, an CAL Intellectual Property Court (CALIPC) should be established to adjudicate intellectual property disputes among member states. Similar to the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe, the CALIPC can be headquartered in Beijing and entrusted to China’s intellectual property authorities to handle disputes. This would eliminate the need for member states to worry about a lack of legal expertise in intellectual property, as their courts could directly enforce rulings made by the CALIPC (That is, China’s intellectual property courts).

China needs to build from the basics to cultivate more intellectual property legal professionals. Currently, both Peking University and Shanghai University have established intellectual property academies. Among them, the intellectual property academy at Peking University is affiliated with its law school and has only four professors. The current scale is far from sufficient to meet the demand for intellectual property professionals in China and the CALIPA. It is recommended that Peking University’s intellectual property academy be separated from the law school and established as an independent School of Intellectual Property Law. More resources should be invested to expand its scale, attract more outstanding professors and students, and cultivate a greater number of intellectual property legal professionals to serve both China and the CALIPA.

To further advance this initiative, an CAL Intellectual Property University should be established in Beijing. In addition to offering programs in intellectual property law, the university should include disciplines such as English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. This will cultivate outstanding intellectual property legal professionals who are proficient in foreign languages, positioning the university as the world’s largest training base for intellectual property talent.

By implementing China’s intellectual property system in third world countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a robust intellectual property framework can be instantly established for all member states. This system, rooted in the needs of the third world, not only promotes technological and economic development in member countries but also positions China as the dominant force in third world intellectual property. This aligns with Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative by building a comprehensive intellectual property system that protects innovative technologies. Furthermore, China can establish an “Intellectual Property Investment Fund” to provide loans to Chinese enterprises that register patents and trademarks under the CALIPA, helping them raise funds to expand into member states.

Additionally, by promoting the adoption of China’s intellectual property system, the Chinese language can be introduced into member states, particularly in African countries, with the ultimate goal of making Chinese an official language in third world nations. In the future, the world’s mainstream languages will be reduced to just two: Chinese and English. China will become the driving force behind the economic development of the entire third world, working alongside the people of third world nations to achieve a moderately prosperous society. Through this initiative, China will lead the third world into a new era of shared growth and prosperity.

Third World People Learning from Mao Zedong’s Thoughts

Mao Zedong was a great proletarian revolutionary, whose contributions to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are universally acknowledged. He was a beloved great leader of the Chinese people and also an outstanding poet, leaving behind countless classic poetic masterpieces. Mao Zedong’s poetry is unique in style, grand and majestic, powerful and vigorous, and extraordinarily magnificent. It stands as an artistic model of using poetic forms to reflect the realities of struggle and revolution, holding a pivotal position in modern Chinese poetry.

Mao Zedong was a monumental figure in China’s history, creating a scientific and China specific ideology known as Mao Zedong Thought. During his leadership in China’s revolution and construction, he composed many widely celebrated poems. Most of his poems were written during the revolutionary journey, documenting the historical events of the Chinese Communist Party’s struggle to save the nation and its people. These works are rich in life philosophy and the essence of Mao Zedong Thought, inspiring readers with their passionate, optimistic, and fearless revolutionary spirit.

Since ancient times, most of China’s renowned poets have been scholars, with their works primarily focusing on expressing aspirations and emotions. Many of these poetic pieces exude sentiments of lamentation over the passing of spring and autumn, and a sense of sorrowful grievance. However, Mao Zedong’s poetry stands out uniquely, capable of inspiring people to overcome adversity and motivating them to strive vigorously. Compared to the works of other famous poets, the power emanating from Mao Zedong’s poetry is unparalleled. Its masculine vigor and noble spirit possess an extraordinary grandeur that commands the landscape, making it the overlord among poetic works.

Mao Zedong’s poetry serves as an excellent educational tool for promoting the Chinese language in third world countries, helping people learn the essence of Mao Zedong Thought and motivating them to build their nations. Ultimately, this will contribute to making Chinese an official language in third world countries.

About the Founder

The founder Mr. Wong Kam Fu, was born in 1945 in Qingxi, Dongguan, Guangdong. He is an outstanding inventor, entrepreneur, pioneer, and philanthropist. Known for his extraordinary creativity, he is often referred to as the “Edison of Hong Kong,” the “Godfather of Patents,” and the “ King of Paging.” On his personal website, www.huangjinfu.com, over 800 of his inventions are listed. He has received numerous awards, including the “1990 Hong Kong Young Industrialist Award” and the “1989 Gold Medal for Inventors at the Third World Genius Conference.” Wong Kam Fu’s outstanding achievements in the telecommunications field and his contributions to nation led to his appointment as a Hong Kong Affairs Advisor in 1995. Subsequently, in 1996, he became a member of the Selection Committee for the First Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, responsible for selecting the first Chief Executive and provisional Legislative Council members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Wong Kam Fu played a significant role in the development of China’s intellectual property (IP) sector. In the early 1980s, during China’s reform and opening up period, the country lacked high tech industries and sufficient funding, resulting in slow economic growth. After reading about how Americans profited from patents, Wong Kam Fu researched the subject extensively and realized the importance of protecting intellectual property to drive technological development. He believed that China’s modernization required a robust intellectual property protection system.

On one occasion, Wong Kam Fu learned that Peking University had developed a Chinese character laser typesetting system. Through Professor Qian Weichang, the former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wong Kam Fu met Professor Wang Xuan, the developer of the system, and the leadership of the Ministry of Electronics Industry at the time. This Chinese character laser typesetting system employed revolutionary innovative technology in the global publishing industry, filling a technological gap in the field. With the support of the Ministry of Electronics Industry, Wong Kam Fu provided funding for Professor Wang Xuan to apply for a European patent in Hong Kong (European Patent No. EP0095536). As a result, Professor Wang Xuan became the first person in China to apply for a foreign patent.

China’s first Chinese language computer was jointly developed by Wong Kam Fu, Professor Qian Weichang (President of Shanghai University and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Professor Li Jinkai (inventor of the stroke based encoding system, British Patent No. GB2161004, applied on April 12, 1984, http://gb.espacenet.com), and Paul Yip Kwok Wah, Chairman of Hong Kong’s Renful Computer Limited. Renful Computer adopted Professor Li’s stroke based encoding system and paid him a patent fee of $50,000, making Professor Li the first Chinese intellectual to become a “ten thousand yuan household.”

Wong Kam Fu realized that China had many outstanding scientific talents, but due to the lack of a patent law, they were unable to share the fruits of technological innovation through patents, unlike scientists in Europe and America. At the time, many farmers in China had become “ten thousand yuan households,” which led Wong Kam Fu to ponder: “If farmers can become ten thousand yuan households, why can’t intellectuals ?” He then began dedicating himself to leveraging various opportunities to give speeches and lobby within the country, promoting a deeper understanding of intellectual property among people from all walks of life and advocating for the establishment of a patent law to protect the outcomes of technological innovation. He also coined a slogan to promote patents: “For intellectuals to become ten thousand yuan households, they must engage in invention and innovation, and apply for patents to achieve prosperity.”

At that time in China, there were still numerous disagreements and ongoing debates about the formulation of a patent law. However, through the concerted efforts of insightful individuals from all sectors of society, China finally began preparing to establish the Chinese Patent Office and draft a patent law a few years later. Yet, having a patent law alone was far from sufficient. The process of turning an invention from an idea into a formal application, and ultimately obtaining a patent after examination, required the involvement of professional patent agency services to assist inventors in transitioning from innovative ideas to authorized patents. To this end, Wong Kam Fu submitted a written proposal to relevant Chinese national institutions, recommending the establishment of a patent agency in Hong Kong. In 1982, Wong Kam Fu signed an agreement in Hong Kong with Ren Jianxin, Director of the Legal Affairs Department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to jointly establish a patent agency with international professional standards in Hong Kong, named China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited. At the time, such a project involving national investment required approval from the central government. Ultimately, after review by State Council leaders and Deng Xiaoping personally, the unprecedented patent agency was approved as a pilot project in Hong Kong.

On March 27, 1984, China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited was established in Hong Kong, with Liu Gushu (father of Lenovo’s Liu Chuanzhi), former Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, serving as Chairman, and Wong Kam Fu as Vice Chairman. This was China’s first foreign related patent agency approved by the State Council and was included in China’s first “Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law.” In its early days, China had not yet implemented its patent law, and few people discussed patent related matters, making the business environment quite challenging. It was not until April 1, 1985, that China’s patent law was officially enacted. At the time, some questioned why the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade chose to partner with Wong Kam Fu, a small businessman from Hong Kong with no legal or official background and little fame. This decision demonstrated the persuasiveness of his insights.

After forty years of development, China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited now has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, New York, Tokyo, and Munich, employing approximately 550 staff. It is one of the largest intellectual property firms in China and has been repeatedly recognized as a top intellectual property agency. Over the past four decades, the company has provided high quality agency and legal services to numerous domestic and international clients, cultivated a large number of elite professionals in the industry, and has been hailed by leaders of the National Intellectual Property Administration as the “vanguard” and “national team” of the agency sector.

During the establishment of China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, Wong Kam Fu realized that although China now had a patent law, the lack of professionals with expertise in intellectual property was akin to having laws without police or judges, hindering the promotion of technological development through the patent system. Together with Liu Gushu, the company’s chairman at the time, Wong Kam Fu proposed to the leadership of the Chinese Patent Office that universities should train intellectual property professionals. With the recommendation of the Chinese Patent Office leadership and the support of Professor Luo Haocai, Vice President of Peking University, Wong Kam Fu provided funding to establish the Intellectual Property School at Peking University. Later, he also funded the establishment of the Intellectual Property School at Shanghai University. These two institutions were the earliest intellectual property schools in China and have cultivated a large number of outstanding high level intellectual property professionals for the nation. Today, graduates from these schools are spread across China’s intellectual property sector, playing significant roles in the court system, patent offices, corporate intellectual property management departments, and agency firms. China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, in particular, has attracted many graduates from Peking University’s Intellectual Property School. Through the company’s training and their personal efforts, they have grown into mid level leaders and elite professionals in various departments, striving to contribute to the development of the company and China’s intellectual property agency industry.

Over the past forty years, 98% of China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited’s clients have been large foreign enterprises. These foreign companies entrusted China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited with applying for patents, trademarks, and enforcing their intellectual property rights in China. Some domestic manufacturers, due to relatively weak awareness of intellectual property protection, infringed on the intellectual property rights of foreign companies, leading to legal action by these foreign firms. This sparked dissatisfaction among many, who criticized China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited for representing foreign companies in intellectual property enforcement, even labeling the company as “traitors.” One of the most classic examples is when China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited represented a cola company in suing a Qingdao factory for trademark infringement. Through the mediation of China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, the dispute was transformed into cooperation, turning a negative situation into a positive one. At the time, the cola company had not yet entered the Chinese market, and the Qingdao factory had excellent production technology. In the end, the team responsible for intellectual property enforcement facilitated a collaboration between the two parties, with the cola company authorizing the Qingdao factory to produce its beverages. This marked the official entry of the cola brand into the Chinese market, achieving a win win outcome.

Wong Kam Fu has been involved in the telecommunications and network fields for over 30 years. In the early 1970s, he independently designed a paging information system and founded Star Paging Limited in 1978. Later, in 1991, it became Hong Kong’s first listed paging company (Hong Kong stock code: 383). At the time, the innovative concept of “Star Paging, 8 second response, digital display, instantly clear” deeply resonated with the public, earning him the title of Hong Kong’s “ King of Paging.” In the 1990s, Wong Kam Fu invested in domestic communication networks, pioneering the introduction of pagers to cities like Shanghai and Beijing, where he launched “Star Paging” services that quickly gained popularity among mainland customers. He also secured contracts to operate mobile phone networks using wireless spectrum from the seven major military regions in China, including the CDMA network in Beijing. However, due to a change in Chinese government policy, just one week before the planned fundraising and listing in the United States, Premier Zhu Rongji declared the Chinese Chinese Foreign structure illegal, causing the IPO plan to fall through and ending in failure.

A year later, Chairman Jiang Zemin announced that he would “ The Chinese military will no longer engage in business activities,” forcing his domestic telecommunications network company to cease operations, ultimately leading to bankruptcy. Among the Hong Kong investors in mainland China at the time, Wong Kam Fu was considered a small businessman, but he was the boldest and had the most faith in the country. However, due to his failure to account for political risks, he ultimately lost $200 million in investments and even lost his listed company.

As a business pioneer, Wong Kam Fu had a highly forward looking vision and was particularly passionate about investing in undiscovered new opportunities, often focusing on the effort rather than the immediate returns. Currently, two of China’s major tech groups have historical ties to him. In addition to the aforementioned Peking University Founder Group’s laser typesetting system, there is also Lenovo, founded by Liu Chuanzhi. Initially, Lenovo was a small company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lacked the resources to establish an office in Hong Kong. At the time, it was affiliated with the Hong Kong office of China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited, which also guaranteed a loan of tens of millions of dollars for Lenovo to become an IBM agent. A subsidiary of China Patent Agent (H.K.) Limited held a 36% stake in Lenovo, but these shares were returned to the Chinese Academy of Sciences at their original price before Lenovo went public.

Wong Kam Fu is most passionate about invention and innovation. Through his personal wisdom and relentless dedication, he has applied for over 800 invention patents. Most of his inventions have brought convenience to people’s lives and improved their quality of life. Wong Kam Fu is also deeply committed to public welfare, having served as a director of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong and actively giving back to society. He believes that a person’s achievements should not be measured by how much money they make but rather by their contributions to society and the recognition they earn from all sectors. He advocates for a commitment to public welfare, caring for disadvantaged communities, taking on corporate responsibilities, and demonstrating patriotism and love for Hong Kong. He is humble, honest, and possesses unique insights, refusing to follow the crowd. It is precisely these noble qualities and years of hard work that have earned him honor and a distinguished position in China’s intellectual property field.