By Vlad Cuc, specialist in company formation matters
The Registry of Companies in Hong Kong
The
Hong Kong Companies Registry is the agency responsible for the enforcement of the
Companies Ordinance and the registration of
companies incorporated in Hong Kong. Local and non-Hong Kong companies are registered here and
de-registrations can also be performed.
Other ordinances enforced by the Registry in connection with company formation and administration are the
Trustee Ordinance, the
Registered Trustees Incorporation Ordinance and the
Limited Partnerships Ordinance.
The
Hong Kong company formation procedure is straightforward and the
Companies Registry maintains a transparent policy for the
registration procedure and the requirements for reporting according to the type of company. If you need assistance when
setting up a company in Hong Kong, our team is at your disposal.
The Company Registry’s attributions
The main function of the Hong Kong Companies Registry is to provide the public with services for receiving the needed documents for company incorporation and registering all Hong Kong or non-Hong Kong companies.
Legal and regulatory compliance is also important and the Registry ensures that the companies and its officers comply with the relevant obligations stipulated in the Companies Ordinance and the other Ordinances it observes.
The services provided by the Companies Registry Include:
- local limited liability company incorporation;
- changing a company name;
- changing the company name of a non-Hong Kong company;
- document registration: the annual returns;
- public search for information about companies registered in Hong Kong;
- deregistration of a defunct Hong Kong company;
- public search for licensed money lenders.
Hong Kong company formation
One of the most popular business types in Hong Kong is the
limited liability company. Investors who want to open this business form need to follow a few steps for
registration:
- choose a suitable business name and verify if it infringes any intellectual rights;
- submit the following needed documents to the Companies Registry: the company incorporation form, a copy of the company’s articles of association, the notice to the business registration office.
The Companies Registry allows for the submission of the needed documents both in electronic form and in hard copy. If all the documents are in order the Registry will issue the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate. Applications that have been submitted in electronic form will receive an electronic certificate and those submitted in hard copy will receive the certificates in hard copy form. The Certificates have the same legal effects, regardless of their form.
