Corporate law in Hong Kong encompasses the Ordinance, bills, circulars, and related laws and regulations that are used collectively for the purpose of lawful company creation and management in the HKSAR. Locally registered companies are governed by the Companies Ordinance, which can be explained in more detail by our corporate lawyers in Hong Kong. In this article, we list the main provisions of the Companies Ordinance and outline the key requirements for local and foreign investors who open a company here.
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The law governing company formation and control in Hong Kong
The Companies Ordinance governs all the legal aspects concerning Hong Kong companies, their incorporation, operation, and the responsibilities of their members and directors.
The corporate law in Hong Kong is governed mainly by the Companies Ordinance Cap. 622 refers to key issues such as:
- Types of companies: limited and unlimited, private and public, holding companies and subsidiaries;
- The Registrar of Companies (the Hong Kong Companies Register) and its role;
- The company registration process in Hong Kong, including details on the company name and objects of activity;
- Conditions for the company members (their liabilities and contributions);
- The share capital and the initial shareholdings;
- Company management and control in Hong Kong (referring to, but not limited to, company directors, general and special meetings, and the notice of meetings);
- Financial reporting for companies, the key obligations applicable to entities and supplementary provisions, as may be required for certain business forms;
- Provisions on company bankruptcy, dissolution, and deletion from the Registrar.
The Companies Ordinance, which can also be referred to as the corporate law in Hong Kong, also makes provisions for the service fees charged by the Companies Registry. Some of these, which are related to company formation in Hong Kong, are listed below by our experts:
- Company incorporation application fee: HK$1,720;
- Company name change fee: HK$295;
- Company annual return registration fee: starting at HK$105.
As listed above by our lawyers in Hong Kong, the Companies Ordinance is a comprehensive document that covers all matters related to the lifetime of a locally registered company: from the conditions of its formation to its ongoing management and reporting, and, finally, to how a business can be closed down.
Working with a team of corporate lawyers in Hong Kong, such as our specialized attorneys, can be helpful to local and foreign investors in terms of making sure that the business (and the members, for that matter) remain compliant and reduce any non-compliance issues that may arise from misinterpretations or failure to observe the provisions of the Ordinance.
All of the information contained in this legislative document can be explained in detail by our lawyers in Hong Kong.
Corporate law services in Hong Kong
Working with a team of corporate lawyers in Hong Kong, such as our local experts, is important to ensure compliance with the applicable regulations for company creation, management, and control.
The types of services offered by our corporate lawyers in Hong Kong include:
- Preparing the incorporation documents: our team can assist with drafting and preparing the Articles of Association, and other documents related to company creation;
- Drafting contracts: preparing agreements and other legal documents, as required, to ensure that the business relationship is mutually beneficial;
- Representing the corporate client: our attorneys in Hong Kong can provide legal representation, as needed, in front of the local authorities or business partners/clients;
- Court representation: as needed, our lawyers in Hong Kong can help with dispute resolution involving contract breaches, non-performance issues, employment, commercial matters, and many others.
Our corporate lawyers in Hong Kong also assist business owners with matters concerning tax law, intellectual property, or commercial property purchase in Hong Kong.
Our law firm in Hong Kong can offer you complete solutions for company formation in Hong Kong. Please contact our lawyers in Hong Kong for a complete offer of our legal services.