Companies Registry - Frequently Asked Questions

Non-Hong Kong Company > Registration

Q1.	When is a non-Hong Kong company required to register in Hong Kong, what are the documents required to be delivered for registration and what fees should be paid?

Q2.	The documents of my non-Hong Kong company are not in Chinese or English, do I need to submit also a Chinese or English translation of the documents?

Q3.	How should copies of documents be certified?

Q4.	How should the translation of documents be certified?

Q5.	Who can act as the authorized representative of a non-Hong Kong company?

Q1.

When is a non-Hong Kong company required to register in Hong Kong, what are the documents required to be delivered for registration and what fees should be paid?

Answer:

Under section 333(1) of the Companies Ordinance, a non-Hong Kong company is required to register within one month of the establishment of a place of business in Hong Kong and deliver the following documents to the Registrar of Companies:

(a)	a Form N1 stating the address of the principal place of business, particulars of directors, secretary and authorized representative in Hong Kong, etc.;
(b)	a certified copy of the instrument defining the company's constitution;
(c)	a certified copy of the company's Certificate of Incorporation (or its equivalent); and
(d)	a certified copy of the company's latest published accounts

The application fee is HK$1,720 (if unsuccessful, an application for the refund of HK$1,425 may by made).

Q2.

The documents of my non-Hong Kong company are not in Chinese or English, do I need to submit also a Chinese or English translation of the documents?

Answer:

If the instrument defining the company's constitution and the accounts are not in Chinese or English, you only need to file a certified Chinese or English translation. If the Certificate of Incorporation or its equivalent is not in Chinese or English, you have to file a certified copy of the Certificate together with a certified Chinese or English translation.

Q3.

How should copies of documents be certified?

Answer:

The documents should be certified pursuant to Paragraph 3 or 7 of the Companies (Forms) Regulations.

Please refer to our External Circular No. 2/2007 and No. 3/2007 for details ('Publications and Press Release' - 'Circulars / Guidelines' - 'External Circulars' section of this website).

Q4.

How should the translation of documents be certified?

Answer:

The translation should be certified pursuant to Paragraph 6 or 7 of the Companies (Forms) Regulations.

Please refer to our External Circular No. 2/2007 and No. 3/2007 for details ('Publications and Press Release' - 'Circulars / Guidelines' - 'External Circulars' section of this website).

Q5.

Who can act as the authorized representative of a non-Hong Kong company?

Answer:

(a)	a person resident in Hong Kong; or
(b)	a firm of solicitors or certified public accountants (practising) having a place of business in Hong Kong; or
(c)	a solicitor corporation having a place of business in Hong Kong; or
(d)	a corporate practice within the meaning of section 2 of the Professional Accountants Ordinance (Cap. 50).