Hong Kong Company Registration: A Detailed Guide

6 min read|Last Updated: October 8, 2024|

You will be required to meet some bare minimum requirements when you are planning to register a company in Hong Kong. Therefore, before thinking of how to register a company in Hong Kong, you should first be aware of these requirements.

Company Name

You must have the name of a company that you are planning to incorporate. Remember that you cannot use the name of another company that has either been incorporated or in the incorporation process.

You should also note that any name that will give the impression that it is linked to the government of Hong Kong is not permitted. Hong Kong’s company name can either be in English or Chinese or both languages, but it should not combine English and Chinese characters. If the name of the Company is in English, then it must have the word ‘Limited’. To ensure that your Company’s name is original, you should run a name search of the Company’s name.

Directors of Limited Company

  • Registering a private limited company in Hong Kong will require you to have at least one director with no maximum number of directors required.
  • At least one of the company directors must be a natural person of the majority age.
  • A director can either be a foreigner or a non-resident, and he/she must not be bankrupt or have any criminal offence.
  • It is not a must for directors to be a shareholder.

Shareholders of Limited Company

Hong Kong companies can have 100% foreign or local shareholding. A minimum of one and a maximum of 50 shareholders is required.

Significant Controllers Register

The controller’s register can either be kept in hard-copy or electronic form stores in the Company’s Hong Kong. The company registration contains the details of persons who have significant control in the Company. The Company must appoint at least one person to be designated representative of the Company.

Company Secretary

All Hong Kong companies must have at least one company secretary. Before you initiate the process of registering a company in Hong Kong, you should have the plans of having one within the first six months of the Company’s incorporation. If the secretary of your Company is a corporate body, then it must have a physical location in Hong Kong. But if she or he is an individual, then they must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. A company with a sole director must appoint a secretary who is not the director.

Share Capital

Registering a company in Hong Kong requires no minimum share capital. Besides, the share capital is not limited to the Hong Kong Dollar currency. The transfer of shares is only subjected to the stamp duty fees. All the companies registered in Hong Kong should have at least one shareholder and one ordinary share issued.

Registered Address

All Hong Kong companies need to have a valid registered physical address and not merely a PO BOX.

Public Information

The information included herein are details of shareholders, directors, and the secretary of the Company. It is mandatory for all the companies that are registered in Hong Kong to update their details with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. If you want to have more confidentiality, then you can choose a different nominee corporate shareholder and a nominee director.

Taxation

  • Hong Kong has a two-tiered profits taxation rate. The first $ 2 million is taxed at 8.25% whereas all the earnings above $ 2miilion are subjected to 16.5%.
  • The taxation system is on a territorial basis. The only income that is taxed are those that are generated within the Hong Kong jurisdiction.
  • The following are not taxed; capital gains, dividends, and GST/VAT.

Annual compliance

Before you commence the process of registering a company in Hong Kong, you should note that your Company will undergo an annual audit by the Certified Public Accounts. Therefore, it will be for your good if you find a qualified accountant to ensure that your transactions are properly recorded and all taxes remitted as required by the Hong Kong Tax Laws.

Which documents are needed for registering a company in Hong Kong?

Well, now that you are familiar with the basic requirements for registering a company in Hong Kong, let’s discuss some of the necessary documents.

  1. You will need the Company’s Article of Association.
  2. Notice to Business Registration Office
  3. A duly filled company incorporation form containing all the basic information requirements mentioned above.
  4. All the shareholders and directors who are not Hong Kong residents must provide their Passport copies and proof of overseas residential address.
  5. The resident directors should also provide their Identity Cards and proof of residential address.
  6. The corporate directors and shareholders need to produce the registration documents of the parent company.

All these documents are readily available in Hong Kong, or you can hire where professionals are required. If you are wondering where to get any or all of the above documents or requirements, you don’t have to worry anymore. Paul Hype Consultancy Services will help you with the entire incorporation process for your Hong Kong Company.

What is the Company Incorporation Process?

The process of company registration in Hong Kong is fast and straightforward. There are three ways in which you can submit your application, and they include:

  • E-registry portal online
  • “CR eFiling” – a mobile application that can be downloaded from the App Store
  • Submit all the hard copy documents to the Companies Registry.

The duration of company registration in Hong Kong depends on the method of application. For instance, the online application takes just an hour while submitting hard copies can take up to 4 business days.

Why Should I incorporate a company with the Professional Registration Services?

Professional registration services like Paul Hype Page will handle all the necessary steps with its end-to-end registration services. Our services in the process of registering a company in Hong Kong include;

  • The company name search and reservation
  • Preparation of all the necessary registration documents
  • Ordering of the common seal and the stamp for the Company
  • Assist in the Bank account opening
  • Assist you with the bookkeeping and filing of the tax returns.
  • Getting the incorporation certificate from the Registrar of Companies

Incorporating your business with our services will genuinely make your work easy and offer you the necessary services like hiring, appointing, and advice on compliance requirements.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the process of registering a company in Hong Kong is fast and easy. However, the process might prove challenging if you are not conversant with all the requirements and necessary documents. Our expert team will work with you procedurally to ensure that the entire process is a success.

KICKSTART YOUR COMPANY INCORPORATION WITH REGIONAL EXPERTS TODAY

Come down to our office or get in touch virtually company incorporation assessment and other corporate services.

FAQs

Can I use a PO Box as my company address?2020-11-24T03:42:53+08:00

No, all Hong Kong companies need to have a valid registered physical address. A PO BOX is not accepted.   

Can I act as a secretary in my Company?2021-06-10T06:47:16+08:00

Yes, you can be a secretary in your Hong Kong Company as long as you are a resident in Hong Kong and not the sole director of your Company. 

Does the registration of a company in Hong Kong require one to be present in Hong Kong?2020-10-27T07:01:10+08:00

No. You can incorporate a company in Hong without necessarily traveling to Hong Kong. It is not a mandate for a Hong Kong company to have a Hong Kong-resident director. 

How long does registering a company in Hong Kong take?2020-10-27T06:50:06+08:00

The process of registering a company in Hong Kong takes an average of one day. 

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