About business set-up and company formation in Hong Kong
As one of the most open economies in the world, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is the ideal location for business set-up and company formation. Hong Kong is specifically geared to enable free enterprise to flourish with a minimum of bureaucracy and restriction.
Hong Kong combines a simple low-rate tax regime with free market principles. There are no restrictions on inbound or outbound investment and there are no nationality restrictions on ownership. Foreigners can invest in almost any business and own up to 100% of the equity.
Territiorial tax system
The Hong Kong tax system is territorial. Profits from a Hong Kong business are subject to profits tax (currently at a rate of 16.5%) but foreign-source income is not taxable even if remitted to Hong Kong. There is no capital gains tax, no sales tax, no withholding tax on dividends or interest and no inheritance tax.
Intellectual Property
The government of Hong Kong SAR has specific policies and legal protection in place for intellectual property rights. The city’s intellectual property laws have been developed to reach the highest international standards to create a free and fair business environment.
Regional headquarters and business hub
In addition to being a major financial and commercial centre in its own right, Hong Kong serves as a regional headquarters and business hub for the Asia Pacific region. It also acts as a gateway for companies looking to do business in Mainland China and mainland enterprises seeking access to global markets.
With all of Asia’s key markets less than four hours’ away, it is easy to see why over 9,000 businesses and companies have made Hong Kong their home. Many have placed their strategic functions, including sales, operations, research and development (R&D), distribution, regional headquarters and corporate treasury centres in the city.
As an international finance centre, Hong Kong’s independent legal system, rule of law, free flow of information and capital, and sound regulatory regime, put it in a prime position to help businesses make the most out of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative, which is set to link Mainland China with countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Favourable business environment
Hong Kong’s appeal is built on its political stability, the rule of law, the free flow of information and the use of English as the language of business. It offers a strong pool of local well-qualified talent, while business-friendly immigration policies make it simple to recruit professionals from overseas.
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (GBA) city cluster
Another opportunity arises from the , which will combine the resources of more than ten cities throughout the region. Hong Kong is to play a key role in ensuring the cluster is internationally competitive, making it the ideal location for businesses and companies to enjoy the benefits.
Free Trade
Another advantage of setting up business in Hong Kong is its free trade policy. The city’s free port status and easy customs procedures makes it easier for businesses and companies to operate.
Hong Kong has eight Hong Kong’s Free Trade Agreements, respectively with Mainland China, New Zealand, the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Chile, Macao, the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), Georgia and Australia.
Sovereign Hong Kong also provides Trust administration to help you protect your assets and family wealth. Click through to our Private Client section for more information.
Hong Kong Company Formation – why incorporate with us?
- Sovereign is a leading worldwide corporate services provider with over two decades of experience in the Hong Kong market. Sovereign Trust (Hong Kong) can assist with your Hong Kong company formation. We will select the most effective and efficient legal entity to suit your requirements, and will then form and register the new company with the Companies Registry (Hong Kong) in line with local laws and regulations.
For Hong Kong company registration, Sovereign will assist you to choose the type of company that best suits your business:- Company limited by shares – the liability of members is limited by the articles of association to the amount unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
- Company limited by guarantee – no share capital and the liability of members is limited by the articles of association to the amount that the members respectively undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up. Non-profit-making organisations are usually registered as guarantee companies.
Choosing a company name
Sovereign will then assist you to choose a name for the company registration. A proposed company name can either be in English or Chinese, or both (but cannot be a combination of English and Chinese). A company name will not be registered if it is the duplication of a name appearing in the Registrar’s Index of Company Names or a name of a body corporate incorporated or established under an Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. There are also restrictions on the use of certain words in relation to government bodies or licensed activities.The application documents for company registration must include:
- Incorporation Form
- A copy of the company’s articles of association
- A Notice to Business Registration Office
There is no requirement on the minimum amount of a new company’s paid-up capital under the Companies Ordinance.
Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate
Generally, for applications delivered in hard copy form, the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate of a company limited by shares will be issued within four working days after the date of delivery. For applications delivered in electronic form, the certificates will normally be issued within one hour after delivery of the documents at the e-Registry for a private company limited by shares. For a company limited by guarantee, the certificates will generally be issued in about three weeks.A private company must have a company secretary and at least one director who is a natural person (i.e. an individual). The sole director of a private company must not also be the company secretary. A private company having only one director must not have a body corporate as its company secretary if the sole director of that body corporate is also the sole director of the private company.
A public company or a company limited by guarantee must have a company secretary and at least two directors, one of whom may be the company secretary. It must not have a body corporate as its director.
If the company secretary is a natural person, he or she must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. If the company secretary is a body corporate, the address of its registered or principal office should be in Hong Kong. There is no requirement under the Companies Ordinance that a director must be a Hong Kong resident.
The particulars of the first director(s) and company secretary and the registered office address must be provided in the incorporation form. The registered office must be situated in Hong Kong.
- A company will be required to maintain a minimum presence in its place of incorporation – a registered office and a resident company secretary and/or a resident agent. We generally provide these services for all of our clients and describe them as ‘domiciliary services’
- We also provide the necessary expertise in administering and managing companies, including company secretarial services, company law, board procedures, director responsibilities and shareholder relations, and financial and corporate compliance requirements. This will enable the company’s owners to focus on their primary business.
Hong Kong company formation FAQs
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Please contact us if you have any questions or queries and your local representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
