Hong Kong Company Registration
A Complete Guide
Hong Kong remains one of the most popular jurisdictions for international business, offering a strategic gateway to Asia, a simple tax system, and world-class professional services. Whether you're an individual entrepreneur or a corporate entity, the registration process is straightforward - but requires careful preparation of documents and information.
This guide outlines the essential requirements for registering a Hong Kong company, covering both individual and corporate shareholders.
Hong Kong operates under a territorial tax system - only profits sourced within Hong Kong are taxable. The corporate profits tax rate is a flat 16.5% (8.25% for the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits).
Company registration is handled by the Companies Registry and typically takes 5 to 10 working days once all documents are in order.
Key Features:
- Separate legal entity with limited liability
- Standard share capital: HKD 10,000 (no requirement to fully pay in)
- Minimum: 1 director and 1 shareholder (can be the same person)
- Company secretary must be appointed (can be a professional firm)
- Annual return filing and audit requirements apply
If the shareholder is a natural person, the following are required:
Company Name
- Chinese name must end with "有限公司"; English name must end with "LIMITED"
Director and Shareholder Information
Passport copy (scanned) for all directors and shareholders
Address proof within 3 months: utility bill, bank statement, driver's license, or government-issued ID card (any one is acceptable)
Shareholding Structure
- Share allocation ratio among shareholders (e.g., 50%/50%, 70%/30%)
Registered Capital: standard is HKD 10,000 (no actual payment required)
Business Scope
- Chinese: within 30 characters (including punctuation)
- English: within 60 letters (including spaces and punctuation)
Additional Information
- Name of related company or employer (if applicable)
- Main country/region of key clients and suppliers (one or two main ones)
If the shareholder is a legal entity, additional documentation is required.
Company Name
- Same naming rules apply
Director and Shareholder Information
Director: Passport copy + address proof within 3 months; Chinese nationals can use ID card + passport copy
Shareholder (the corporate entity): Passport copy + address proof for ultimate beneficial owner(s)
Additional Documentation (if the Corporate Shareholder Is a Chinese Entity)
- Business license of the investing company
- Articles of Association
- Authorized signatory documents
- Ownership structure chart
- Overseas Investment Filing (ODI) – For Chinese
Corporate Shareholders
Important: Chinese companies investing in Hong Kong must obtain ODI approval from NDRC and MOFCOM before registration. This process typically takes several months and requires a detailed business plan and financial statements.
Registered Capital and Business Scope
- Standard: HKD 10,000
- Business scope: same limits as individual shareholders
Correspondence Address
- Confirm whether the address on the ID document can receive mail; if not, provide an alternative
Additional Information
- Name of related company or employer (if applicable)
- Main country/region of key clients and suppliers
Annual Compliance (Hong Kong Company)
Annual Return – file with the Companies Registry yearly
Financial Statements – audited by a HK CPA yearly
Profits Tax Return – file with IRD yearly
Business Registration – renew and pay the fee yearly
Company Secretary – must be maintained at all times
Individual vs. Corporate Shareholder
Documents: Individual needs passport + address proof; Corporate needs those plus company documents.
ODI Approval (if Chinese investor): Not required for Individual; required for Corporate.
Complexity: Individual = lower; Corporate = higher.
Best For: Individual = startups; Corporate = multinational groups.
Choose your business scope carefully - broad enough to cover future activities without being overly restrictive
Prepare address proof in advance - must be recent (within 3 months) and clearly show name and address
Plan for ODI if applicable - start early; it can take several months
Appoint a qualified company secretary - a legal requirement
Contact Us
Tannet Group is in its sixth five-year development plan stage, and Shanghai Tannet, as part of the Group, is well-positioned to support your Hong Kong company registration and ODI approval needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at +86-18101649652, or email tianyinong@tannet-group.com
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