How to Find Company Information in Hong Kong

Company information is primarily available from the Hong Kong Companies Registry.

Information can be accessed either online, using the Companies Registry’s e-Search services via the e-Services Portal, or onsite, by visiting the Companies Registry’s e-Services Centre in person, which is located at 13^th floor, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

The online portal offers both free and paid search services. Users can search company information either as unregistered online users, or by creating a user account. Registered users benefit from slightly lower search fees.

The following basic company information is available free of charge from the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to a private company limited by shares:

• company name;
• business registration number;
• company status (live, dissolved, etc.);
• company type;
• date of incorporation;
• date of dissolution (if applicable);
• company name history;
• list of document(s) filed with the Companies Registry in relation to the company.

The following company information is available for a nominal charge from the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to a private company limited by shares:

• business name (if different from the company name);
• business nature;
• registered office address;
• total amount of indebtedness subject to mortgages and charges (if any);
• share capital structure: for each class of shares, currency, total number of share(s), total share capital amount and total amount paid up or regarded as paid up on the share(s);
• director(s) and alternate director(s) details:

for individual director(s) and alternate(s): full name, correspondence address and partial number of Hong Kong identity card or passport;

for corporate director(s): full name, registered office address and business registration number;

• Company secretary details:

if the company secretary is an individual: full name, correspondence address, partial number of Hong Kong identity card or passport and Trust or Company Service Provider Licenses number (if the company secretary is licensed as a professional company service provider);

if the company secretary is a body corporate: full name, correspondence address, business registration number and Trust or Company Service Provider Licenses number (if the company secretary is licensed as a professional company service provider);

• shareholder(s) details: class of share(s) held, total number of share(s) held in each class, full name and address;
• address at which the company’s records are kept, if they are not kept at the registered office.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of company documents that are available for a nominal charge from the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to a private company limited by shares:

• certificate of incorporation;
• incorporation form (form NNC1) setting out company details (company name, registered office address, details of director(s), company secretary and shareholder(s)) as at the incorporation date;
• articles of association and any subsequent notice(s) of alteration of company’s articles (form NAA1);
• annual return (form NAR1) setting out company details (company name, registered office address, details of director(s), company secretary and shareholder(s)) as at each anniversary date of the incorporation date;
• certificate of change of company name (form NNC2) (if any);
• forms filed with the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to the company’s officers, including but not limited to notice(s) of change of director and company secretary (form ND2A) and notice(s) of change in particulars of director and company secretary (form ND2B) (if any);
• forms filed with the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to the company’s share capital, including but not limited to return of share allotment (form NSC1), return of share redemption or buy-back (form NSC2), notice of alteration of share capital (form NSC11), notice of redenomination of share capital (form NSC13) (if any);
• forms filed with the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to the company’s mortgages and charges, including but not limited to statement of particulars of charge (form NM1), notification of payment of debt/release from charge (form NM2) (if any);
• forms filed with the Hong Kong Companies Registry in relation to the company’s registered office and registers, including but not limited to notice of change of registered office address (form NR1), notice of location of registers and records (form NR2) (if any).

In addition, the following documents are available for a nominal charge from the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in relation to a private company limited by shares:

• electronic and certified extracts of information from the IRD’s Business Register;
• copy of the business registration certificate, which proves that a company is registered to operate a business in Hong Kong, and must be renewed every one or three year(s).

Other company-related information available in relation to a private company limited by shares includes:

• charges index search from the Hong Kong Companies Registry: provides a summary of registered charges, including a brief description of the charge, the charge registration number and the dates of creation and registration;
• directors index search from the Hong Kong Companies Registry:

company-based search: list of all current director(s) and reserve director(s) (if any) of a company;

director-based search: list of all company(ies) of which a person is currently a director or reserve director;

director particulars search: particulars of a specific current director or reserve director of a company;

• company particulars search from the Hong Kong Companies Registry: generates a report setting out company particulars, including registered office address, principal place of business, share capital structure, information regarding shareholder(s), director(s) and reserve director(s) (if any) and company secretary, and particulars of receiver(s) and manager(s) (if any);
• disqualification order search from the Hong Kong Companies Registry to obtain particulars of a disqualification order made against an individual or company;
• report from the Hong Kong Official Receiver’s Office showing whether a company is wound-up or facing a compulsory winding-up petition;
• if the company owns any real-estate property, report from the Hong Kong Land Registry showing particulars of the property, particulars of the owner, any incumbrance(s) and deed(s) pending registration;
• trademark, patent and design records from the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department’s online search system.

Information on pending proceedings is available from the Hong Kong Judiciary integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS). However, only parties to proceedings, their legal representatives, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Hong Kong Law Society, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies can access such information.

In addition, details of upcoming hearings (date, particulars of parties and their legal representatives) can be obtained via the Hong Kong Judiciary’s Court Diary’s website, by conducting a search by case number.