Hong Kong Limited Company

General Information

  • Type of Company – Private Limited Company.
  • Legislation – The Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
  • Company name – The name may be in English, Chinese or in both languages and must end with the word ‘Limited’ or its equivalent in Chinese Characters.
  • Time-scale for incorporation - 3 Weeks.
  • Disclosure of beneficial owners must be reported to the Companies Registry and the Financial Services Commission but are not available to the public.
  • Double tax treaties currently with 26 countries, including India, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, South Africa, UK, France, Germany and Cyprus.
  • Shelf companies are available.
  • Money laundering legislation is in existence.

Local Requirements

  • Registered Office and Registered Agent must be maintained. A postal address is not permitted.
  • Company Secretary must be appointed. May be a natural person or corporate body resident in Hong Kong.
  • Public recording of shareholders, directors, secretary, registered office, auditor, issued share capital and the memorandum & articles of association are filed at the Company Registry but not available to the public
  • Accounts must be audited by resident auditor and records must be properly kept and maintained. audited financial statements are required.

Corporate Requirements

  • Minimum number of shareholders - One (1). May be a natural person or a corporate body, and need not be resident  in Hong Kong.
  • Minimum number of directors - One (1). Individual or corporate directors are permitted, and need not be resident  in Hong Kong.
  • Minimum capital requirement - HK$0.02.
  • There is no minimum authorised share capital requirement.
  • Bearer shares are not permitted.

Annual Requirements

  • Annual return and annual statutory meetings are required, together with an Annual Return fee of HK$105.
  • A Business Registration Certificate is required. Currently there is an annual fee of US$375 payable within one month from date of incorporation.
  • Statutory accounting is required.
  • Taxation – Hong Kong companies do not have to pay Hong Kong tax on foreign source profits.  However, a rate of 17.5% as taxable profits is applicable to corporations based on Hong Kong source of income only. 
  • Cyprus Tax Planning