The registration requirements for a Hong Kong private company cover its identity, owners, management and local administration. Use this checklist to assign responsibility for each item before the incorporation application is prepared.
Company identity and constitution Choose an available, permitted company name and prepare articles of association appropriate to the ownership arrangement. Decide the initial share allocation and the company's intended activity. A standard form can be suitable for a straightforward company, but several founders with different economic rights may need tailored advice.
People and local administration Identify at least one founder member and at least one natural person director. Arrange a Hong Kong registered office and a qualifying company secretary. The sole director cannot also act as secretary. Record who is authorised to approve the application and who will be responsible for correspondence once registration is complete.
Information to collect * Proposed company name and alternatives. * Director, shareholder and secretary particulars. * Registered office details and the address service agreement. * Share numbers, ownership percentages and initial capital information. * A complete ownership explanation where another company holds shares. * The intended business activity and relevant licensing questions.
Registration is only one checkpoint The statutory application and a service provider's onboarding file are not necessarily identical. A provider may request additional identity verification or source of funds information. A future bank may request a website and commercial evidence that the Registry did not need to incorporate the company.
Keep a requirements tracker with columns for the item, responsible person, document version and approval status. Mark a document complete only after checking that names, addresses and dates agree across the file. This prevents the common situation where everyone has sent a document but the documents describe different versions of the company.
After incorporation, establish the statutory records and significant controllers process, then move to account and payment applications. Do not describe the company as licensed for a regulated activity simply because the registration application has been accepted.
Sources and scope
General information, not advice for your individual legal or tax position. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider.