Hong Kong Company Incorporation FAQ

Who can setup a private Limited Company in Hong Kong?
Individuals meeting the following requirements can incorporate a private Limited Company in Hong Kong.
- 18 years old or above.
- Nationality not subjected to the United Nations Sanctions.
- Hold a valid Hong Kong Identity Card, a valid Passport, and Identity Card of People`s Republic of China are also accepted.
What are the minimum requirements for setting up a private Limited Company in Hong Kong?
The following requirements have to be fulfilled when incorporating a private limited company in Hong Kong:
- At least one shareholder and one director (can be the same person).
- Possess an address in Hong Kong as the registered address.*
- A Hong Kong Citizen or, A licensed Trust or Company Service Provider to act as your Company Secretary.*
*The commercial addresses of BBC's 7 branches are available for use as your registered address.
*BBC's company secretary services can act as the company secretary for your company.
Can a person act as the sole director, shareholder and company secretary for a company?

NO. if you are the sole director. Section 475(2) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) expressly prohibits the sole director from acting as the company secretary. Besides, section 475(3) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) provides that no private company having only one director may 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.

YES. If your company has more than one director, one of the directors who is a Hong Kong identity card holders (citizens) may serve as the company secretary.
Do I need to come in person to register a company?

No, everything can be done remotely through our BBC’s me Self-Service-Platform. Our Real Human Customer Service (non-AI chatbot) can provide assistance during the process.
What are the regulations regarding the naming of a company registered in Hong Kong?
- You are free to choose to have your company registered with an English name or a Chinese name alone or both. However, the lack of an English company name may affect bank account opening in the future.
- The company name must be in English or Traditional Chinese, but not a combination of both.
- English names must end with "Limited". Chinese names must end with "有限公司" (stands for Limited).
- The company name is not being used by other company.
- Some word can only be used with required license, e.g. Bank
Our Customer Service team will provide professional consultation on naming.
How long does it take to register a company in Hong Kong?
Time required to get your Hong Kong Limited Company at BBC:
- Express Service: Within 1 business day. No extra fee required.
- Regular Service: Within 7 business days. From the date we received the signed documents and all the required statutory documents from the shareholders and directors. Applicable when the applicant does not qualify for express service.
My partners and I are not Hong Kong citizens. Can we use Plans R0–4? Why do they seem cheaper?

Hong Kong identity card holders (citizens) have the option to act as both the Company Secretary and the Designated Representative for the Significant Controllers Register (SCR). This gives them more flexibility in choosing service plans, which is why Plans R0–4 look cheaper.
For non-Hong Kong citizens, to ensure your company complies with the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, we recommend Plans G1–3, which are specifically designed to meet your compliance requirements.
What documents will I receive after incorporation?
- Certificate of Incorporation (CI).
- Business Registration (BR) Certificate, valid for 1 year.
- Articles of Association x 5 (Provided by BBC).
- Pre-inked circular chop x 1 (Provided by BBC).
- All necessary documents for bank account setup.
What is the difference between directors and shareholders?

Shareholders are the company's investor.
Directors are appointed by shareholders to take charge of daily operations and making decisions of the company (for example, signing a cheque). A director can be the shareholder of a company at the same time.
What is capital? Does an capital need to be deposited in Company Registry or a bank?
- Capital of a share is the same as a Registered capital, which can be customized. If HKD$1 is equal to 1 share, and at least 1 share needs to be purchased, and a customer will usually opt for 10,000 shares; and all shares need to be fully allocated to shareholders;
- Shareholders do not need to withdraw the HKD$10,000 or bank in that in a bank. However, if possessed shares are not adequate to compensate a debt, the debt will be deducted according to the proportion of shares possessed and the Registered capital;
- Shareholder should assess his/her ability to clear possible debts in the determination of a fund to be built up and the maximum amount of shares to be sold.
Can I change my company name after incorporation?

Yes. It takes about 1–2 weeks, and you will receive a new Business Registration Certificate and Name Change Certificate.
What is a Green Box and what's inside a Green Box? is it a MUST?
The Green Box set is a collective term to refer to the documents for the incorporation of a limited company in Hong Kong and company stamps for daily use. The items inside the Green Box are:
- Pre-inked Circular chop: Used for daily company operations, such as signing for courier documents (recommended to prepare more than one).
- Pre-inked Rectangular signature chop: usually use on company cheques, and for the company’s authorized person to sign documents on behalf of the company (recommended to prepare at least one).
- Company Seal: Seldom used. It is used mainly on legal documents, and for sale and purchase contracts.
- Articles of Association: It is required by law that every company have its own company charter.
- Share Certificate Book: Mainly for recording shares and future allotment of new shares. Any transfer of shares must be filed with the Inland Revenue Department.
- Statutory Register: It is required by law that every company keeps record of a register of changes and personal particulars of directors, shareholders, secretaries, minutes of board meetings, minutes of shareholders' meetings and statutory documents.
No, the Green Box is NOT a MUST. It is a tradition in Hong Kong to have all these documents and items kept in a green colour box and it would be given to the owner of the company after incorporation is officially done.
*Please note: Some Purchase Contracts require the use of signature chop and/or steel seals, please choose according to your needs.
Is it mandatory to open a Hong Kong bank account?

No, it is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended for ease of business operations.