On November 1-2, the 2008 Chinese Qualification Examination for Patent Agent starts in 12 cities as scheduled. A total of 8,766 people attend the test, including 38 from Hong Kong and Macao.

This is the 10th round after the examination starts in 1992, as well as the third one after the examination system reform in 2006. The number of examinees for the test this year reaches 8,766, a little bit higher than that of 2007, including 38 from Hong Kong and Macao. Statistics show that the numbers of examinees in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou account for 39.1 percent, 19.2 percent and 14.6 percent of the total nationwide respectively. The proportions of the three cities combine to hit 72.9 percent; Of the examinees, 97.8 percent are under 45 years old, and the proportions of examinees with education background of machinery, chemicals, electrics technologies reach 36.6 percent, 30 .0 percent and 33.4 percent respectively.

With the implementation of the newly modified Implementation Measures of the Qualification Examination for Patent Agent and Regulations on Qualification Examination for Patent Agent, and the formulation and implementation of Measures of Dealing with Discipline Violating Activities of the Qualification Examination for Patent Agent, the system for the examination will be further improved and will be fairer, more scientific, transparent and standardized.