Registration of a new company

(I) Incorporation of a local limited company in Hong Kong
 
  Step 1      Choose a name for the company. The name will not be registered if it is the same as a name appearing in the index of company names kept by the Registrar of Companies. A free company name search may be conducted on the internet at the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre or at its Public Search Centre on the 13th floor of the Queensway Government Offices. It should also be borne in mind that a name that may infringe the intellectual property rights (IPR) of a third party should not be adopted. Infringement of the IPR of others may attract criminal or civil sanctions, either in Hong Kong or elsewhere. A search in the Trademark Register (http://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk) maintained by the Intellectual Property Department should also be conducted.
 
  Step 2 Submit the following incorporation documents with the required fees to the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices:
   
(a)  

Incorporation Form – Form NC1 (for company limited by shares) or Form NC1G (for company not limited by shares); and

(b)  

A copy of the company's memorandum of association and articles of association (if any) certified as true by a founder memberof the company(Please refer to the forms of model memorandum and articles of association for various types of companies in the First Schedule to the Companies Ordinance)

 
  Step 3 Collect the Certificate of Incorporation. Normally, a Certificate of Incorporation of a company limited by shares will be issued in 4 working days.
 
 

Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 

 
  Incorporation of a Local Limited Company (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Company Name
  Incorporation of a Local Limited Company
   
  Filling Tips
  Incorporation or Change of Name of a Local Limited Company - Points to Note (pdf Format)

(II) Registration of a non-Hong Kong company (i.e. a company incorporated outside Hong Kong which has established a place of business in Hong Kong)
 
  Step 1     Submit the following documents with the appropriate fees to the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices:
   
(a)   Form N1 - Particulars of a Non-Hong Kong Company Registered in Hong Kong
(b)   a certified copy of the instrument defining the company's constitution e.g. Memorandum and Articles of Association, Charter and Statutes
(c)   a certified copy of the company's Certificate of Incorporation (or its equivalent)
(d)   a certified copy of the company's latest accounts
 
  Step 2   Collect the Certificate of Registration of Non-Hong Kong Company. Normally, the Certificate will be issued in 15 working days.
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  Registration of a Non-Hong Kong Company (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Non-Hong Kong Company

Change of company name

(I) Change of name of a local limited company
 
  Step 1     Choose a new name for the company. The name will not be registered if it is the same as a name appearing in the index of company names kept by the Registrar of Companies. A free company name search may be conducted on the internet at the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre or at its Public Search Centre on the 13th floor of the Queensway Government Offices. It should also be borne in mind that a name that may infringe the intellectual property rights (IPR) of a third party should not be adopted. Infringement of the IPR of others may attract criminal or civil sanctions, either in Hong Kong or elsewhere. A search in the Trademark Register (http://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk) maintained by the Intellectual Property Department should also be conducted.
 
  Step 2 The company has to pass a Special Resolution (SR) to change the company name. The SR need not be submitted to the Registry but a Form NC2 "Notification of Change of Company Name" has to be submitted within 15 days after the passing of the SR. The form should be submitted together with the appropriate fee to the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices.
 
  Step 3 Collect the Certificate of Change of Name. Normally, the Certificate will be issued in 4 working days.
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  Change of Name of a Local Limited Company (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Company Name
   
  Filing Tips:
  Incorporation or Change of Name of a Local Limited Company - Points to Note (pdf Format)
 
(II) Change of Corporate Name of a non-Hong Kong company
 
  Step 1     Submit the following documents with the appropriate fees to the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices:
   
(a)   Form N10 - Notification of Change in Corporate Name of a Non-Hong Kong Company Company
(b)   a certified copy of the instrument issued by the relevant government authority in the place of incorporation of the company showing the change of name and the effective date.
 
  Step 2 Collect the Certificate of Registration of Change of Corporate Name of Non-Hong Kong Company. Normally, the Certificate will be issued in 7 working days.
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  Filing Requirements of a Non-Hong Kong Company after Registration (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Non-Hong Kong Company

Registration of documents

  Registered local and non-Hong Kong companies are required to submit Annual Returns and other statutory documents to the Companies Registry for registration. Documents must be signed and submitted together with the correct fees (if applicable) within the prescribed time periods.
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  Filing Requirements of a Local Limited Company after Incorporation (pdf Format)
 
  Filing Requirements of a Non-Hong Kong Company after Registration (pdf Format)
 
  Filing of Annual Return by a Local Limited Company (pdf Format)
 
  Filing of Annual Return by a Non-Hong Kong Company (pdf Format)
 
  Registration of Charges and Their Discharge (pdf Format)
 
  Information on Presenting Documents to the Companies Registry (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Filing Documents by Local Companies
  Registration of Charges and Their Discharge
  Dormant Companies
  Non-Hong Kong Company

Search on company information

  Information search on the current data of companies and image records of documents registered and kept by the Registrar of Companies are available on payment of the search fees (if applicable).
 
(I) Search on Company records
 
  Search on records of companies registered under the following ordinances can be conducted through the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre on the internet or at the Registry's Public Search Centre on the 13th floor of the Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong:
 
   
*   Companies Ordinance
*   Limited Partnerships Ordinance
*   Registered Trustees Incorporation Ordinance
*   Miscellaneous Incorporation Ordinances
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  How To Obtain Company Information (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Electronic Search Services
 
(II) Search on Records of Licensed Money Lenders
 
  Search on registered particulars of licensed money lenders can be conducted at the Money Lenders Unit of the Companies Registry on the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

Deregistration of a defunct solvent private company

  Step 1     Apply for a written notice of no objection from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue. Application form IR 1263 can be downloaded from the Inland Revenue Department's website.
 
  Step 2 Submit the following documents together with the required fees to the Companies Registry on the 14th floor of the Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong:
   
(a)   Form DR1 - Application for Deregistration of a Defunct Private Company
(b)   the original copy of the written notice of no objection from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
 
  Please refer to the following information pamphlets for details:
 
  Deregistration of a Defunct Solvent Private Company (pdf Format)
 
  Price Guide To Main Services (pdf Format)
   
  Frequently Asked Questions :
  Deregistration, Striking Off and Winding Up