Registration of a company in Hong Kong usually takes 3 days after providing us with all the necessary documents and paying for the cost of services.

For the purpose of registration of a Hong Kong company, a client needs to provide the following documents:

1. Good-quality scan copy of a valid passport (not a photo) of the director and shareholder. Ideally, when these copies are notarized, but not required;

2. A copy of document confirming the address of the director and shareholder of the company (for example,  utility bill or an extract from the bank where the name, surname, middle name of the person is given and his/her address of residence);

3. Reliably and fully completed questionnaire (form will be provided);

4. A prospective name of your new company in Hong Kong;

5. Describe the type of activity of your company;

6. The amount of registered capital,

1. A Hong Kong company name can be in English or Chinese. A company may adopt an English name and a Chinese name. A company name with a combination of English letters and Chinese characters is not acceptable.

 

2. A Hong Kong company name that is the same as a name appearing in the index of company names kept by the Registrar of Companies (the Registrar) will be rejected. A company name must also satisfy the relevant requirements of the Companies Ordinance.

 

3. A Chinese company name should be in traditional Chinese characters that can be found in the Kang Xi Dictionary (《康 熙字典》) or Ci Hai Dictionary (《辭海》字典) and the ISO 10646 international coding standard. The Chinese company name will be printed in “New Sai Ming” font (新細明體) on certificates of incorporation.

 

4. Hong Kong Company names containing words or expressions such as “trust”, “chamber of commerce” etc. set out in the Companies (Words and Expressions in Company Names) Order (Cap. 622A) will require prior approval of the Registrar before registration.

 

5. A proposed name of a Hong Kong company which is identical to a name that has been subject to a change of name direction issued by the Registrar will not be registered except with the prior approval of the Registrar. You are reminded to conduct a search (free of charge) on the list containing these old company names at the Registry’s Cyber Search Centre. A hyperlink to the list is provided on the screen displaying the company name search result.

 

6. In examining a proposed name before the company’s incorporation, the question of whether the name is “too like” that of a registered name will generally NOT form part of the Registrar’s consideration. You should consider carefully whether the proposed name could lead to a complaint as being “too like” an existing company name, and the possibility that it may be subject to a change of name direction by the Registrar after incorporation.

 

7. You are also reminded that it is in your interest to use a name which does not conflict with a trademark and which is sufficiently distinguished from any other name appearing in the Registrar’s index of company names. You should also search the Trademark Register (http://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk) maintained by the Intellectual Property Department. Not only would this reduce the risk of a direction being issued by the Registrar to change your company name, the risk of an action for passing off or infringement of trademarks could similarly be reduced.

In general, an application for business registration must be made within 1 month of the commencement of business. The application must be made in a prescribed form [Form 1(a), 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d)] and accompanied by the required supporting documents and full payment of the appropriate business registration fee and levy1 . Any person who applies for incorporation of a local company or registration of a non-Hong Kong company under the Companies Ordinance is deemed to have made a simultaneous application for business registration. The Notice to Business Registration Office (i.e. IRBR1 and IRBR2 for local and non-Hong Kong companies respectively) must be delivered together with the prescribed business registration fee and levy at the time when an application for incorporation of a local company or registration of a non-Hong Kong company is made with the Companies Registry.

To apostilize corporate documents of a company registered in Hong Kong, you must first certify them in the Registrar of Companies of Hong Kong, and Business Registration Certificate in Business Registrar Office of Hong Kong. After that, the documents are sent to the Hong Kong High Court for apostilization. The whole procedure takes about 10 business days.

A visit to Hong Kong to register a Hong Kong company is not required and the entire procedure is remote.

The company name must be checked before you can proceed with the incorporation of a Hong Kong company. This is necessary in order to avoid additional costs for paying the state duties if you are refused the registration of the company due to the fact that company under such name has already been registered in Hong Kong.

A director of a Hong Kong company may be a natural person (or a company) of any nationality (apart from those countries that have sanctions under United Nations) and at least 18 years of age who is not bankrupt or convicted for any serious violation. A minimum of one individual director and unlimited maximum number of directors is possible. A director and shareholder may be one person. Nominee corporate or private directors can also be appointed. Directors Board meetings can be held anywhere in the world.

A shareholder in a Hong Kong company may be a person (or a company) of any country of residence (apart from those countries that have sanctions under United Nations) and at east 18 years of age. Private limited company can have a minimum of 1 and maximum of 50 shareholders. A director and shareholder can be the same or different person. Appointment of nominee shareholders is allowed. Shareholders meetings can be held anywhere in the world.

A limited company in Hong Kong is obliged under Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) to appoint a local Company Secretary to ensure compliance of the company with the local laws of Hong Kong. A professional corporate company secretary must obtain an approval license (TCSP license) from the Companies Registry in order to render such services to its clients. The obligations of a secretary company in Hong Kong are generally as follows

• Acting as point of contact with the all Government bodies of Hong Kong;
• Preparing and filing an Annual Return to the Hong Kong Companies Registry;
• Preparing written resolutions for the Annual General Meeting;
• Maintaining the Minutes and Register Books;
• Payment of Government duties;
• Maintaining of the Significant Controllers Register and provision of a designated representative to communicate with the Hong Kong authorities.
• Monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant government regulations and legal requirements, especially under the Companies Ordinance and Inland Revenue Ordinance. 

 The Registered Office Address is the ongoing compliance company registered Hong Kong. Only local valid physical Hong Kong address is required as the company registered address. Post Office Box is not suitable as the registered Hong Kong registered address.

We provide you with a suitable registered address at a very acceptable price as part pf our company service.

In a Hong Kong company, it is possible to use the services of a nominee director and shareholder. In this case, you will not be listed in the company register.

However, according to the laws of Hong Kong, a Significant Controller Persons must be installed and information about them must be kept with the company secretary. No public disclosure possible and this information is available for responsible Government bodies of Hong Kong.

1. Placing the order to register a Hong Kong Company;
2. Decide on a company name of your Hong Kong company; 
3. Conduct a name availability search. The name must be an original one - not in use by another company in Hong Kong and also was not used before. 
4. Preparation of corporate documents, such as the Articles of Association, Resolutions and NNC1 form;
5. Certify copies of identity documents of a director and shareholder, if registration of the Hong Kong company is done remotely without visiting Companies registry;
6. Provide documents to the Companies Registry;
7. Pay a Government fee and Business registration fee;
8. Make a registration with the Inland Revenue Department for tax purposes.
9. Certify or apostille documents.