The official rules that apply
- A non-Hong Kong resident can be appointed as a director of a local limited company.
- A company secretary who is a natural person must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong; a corporate secretary must have its registered office or place of business in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong companies (except listed) must maintain a significant controllers register, kept at the registered office or another place in Hong Kong.
- The business registration fee was increased to $2,200 per annum from 1 April 2024.
Registration basics in Hong Kong
| Company type | Private company limited by shares |
|---|---|
| Registry | Companies Registry |
| Government filing fee | HK$1,545 — HK$1,545 electronic filing (HK$1,720 on paper), plus the Business Registration fee paid together. |
| Registration time | Electronic applications normally get a certificate within 1 hour; paper filing takes about 4 working days. |
| Resident director | Directors may live anywhere; at least one must be a natural person. The company secretary must be resident in Hong Kong (or a Hong Kong-based company). |
| Visit, notary or lawyer | Online via e-Registry; no notary step. |
| Registered address | The registered office must be in Hong Kong. The official FAQ does not address virtual offices. |
| Minimum capital | No minimum |
| Corporate tax | Two-tier profits tax: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, 16.5% above. Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxed. |
| Every year | Business Registration fee HK$2,200 a year, annual return, and a significant controllers register kept in Hong Kong. |
Full step-by-step guide: company registration in Hong Kong.
Sources
- cr.gov.hk, checked 27 September 2026
- cr.gov.hk, checked 27 September 2026
- cr.gov.hk, checked 27 September 2026
- ird.gov.hk, checked 27 September 2026