Company Characteristics – Hong Kong

General Information

  • Official languages: English and Chinese.
  • Political stability: Excellent.
  • Profits tax: No tax if the company's income does not derive, directly or indirectly, from Hong Kong.
  • Registration time: Express registration (24 hours, requires your presence in Hong Kong) or standard registration (7 business days from receipt of signed incorporation documents).

The Company

  • Company type: Private Limited Company. Hong Kong has no "offshore" status as such — it is a tax exemption for activity conducted outside Hong Kong.
  • Legal system: English Common Law and local laws.
  • Permitted activities: Any activity except banking, insurance, and financial activities (such as currency exchange).
  • Registered local agent: Mandatory. Merritt Asia Limited acts as your company's Company Secretary.
  • Ready-made companies: Available on request (around 500 companies typically available).
  • Document language: English or Chinese, with translation assistance available.
  • Company name: English, Chinese, or both. Certain names (bank, federal, trust, etc.) are regulated — name availability can be checked free of charge.

Share Capital

  • Capital currency: HKD (Hong Kong Dollar).
  • Minimum paid-up capital: HKD 1.
  • Standard capital at incorporation: HKD 10,000.
  • Maximum capital: Unlimited, though we recommend not exceeding HKD 10,000 as this is the customary amount for a Hong Kong company.
  • Payment of remaining capital: Not mandatory and not time-limited.
  • Minimum number of shareholders: One.
  • Maximum number of shareholders: 50.
  • Bearer shares: Not permitted.
  • Permitted share classes: Ordinary shares, preference shares, shares with or without voting rights.

Company Secretary

The Company Secretary represents the company before Hong Kong authorities for all administrative matters, and is the point of contact for legal, accounting, tax, and social follow-up. Note: despite the name, this is not a "secretary" role in the everyday sense — it is a mandatory legal appointment.

  • Company Secretary required: Yes.
  • Must be locally registered: Yes, registered with the Hong Kong Companies Registry.