Complete Guide to Business Registration in Hong Kong

Choose the sort and name of company

Choose the sort of company that best suits your company's purposes:

Company limited by shares - the liability of members is restricted by the articles of association to the total amount unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.

Company limited by guarantee - no share capital and the liability of members is restricted by the articles of association to the quantity that the members respectively undertake to contribute to the assets of the organization in case of its being wound up. Non-profit-making organisations are generally registered as guarantee companies.

Then, choose a term for the company. Please make reference to the Guideline on Registration of Company Names for Hong Kong Companies (pdf Format) for the points to note when selecting a company name.

An organization name that's just like a title appearing in the index of company names kept by the Registrar of Companies ("the Registrar") will be rejected. An organization name search may be conducted totally free through our Cyber Search Centre or Company Search Mobile Service or at our Public Search Centre on the 13th floor of the Queensway Government Offices. Use the "Exact Name Search" mode and input the entire and exact company name that you propose to register (use traditional Chinese characters for Chinese name).

Deliver application

Deliver the next documents with the right fees either electronically through our "e-Registry" or “CR eFiling” mobile application or in hard copy form to the Shroff on the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices:

Incorporation Form – Form NNC1 (for company limited by shares) or Form NNC1G (for company not limited by shares);

A copy of the company's articles of association (samples are available for use at e-Registry); and

A Notice to Business Registration Office (IRBR1).

Collect Certificates

If the applying is approved, download or collect the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate (“the Certificates”). The Certificates is likely to be issued in electronic form or hard copy form, with respect to the mode of delivery of the applications. Certificates in electronic form or hard copy form have exactly the same legal effect.

Application delivered in electronic form

Electronic Certificates for private companies limited by shares will normally be issued within 1 hour. A contact notification for download of the Certificates is going to be sent to the message box and registered current email address of the registered user who delivers the application.

Application delivered in hard copy form

Certificates for companies limited by shares in hard copy form will normally be issued within 4 working days. The presentor is likely to be notified by fax once the Certificates are ready for collection. The Certificates need to be collected face-to-face at the Registry on presentation of the Notification of Collection of Certificate(s) and the identification document / company chop mentioned therein. If the presentor sends a consultant to get the Certificates, the representative has to generate a written authorisation from the presentor and the identification document stated in the written authorisation.

For more details kindly visit open a company in Hong Kong.