Hong Kong private limited company: sourced answers
6 answers to specific questions — each with a verbatim quote from an official source and a link to it.
Every answer is checked against a verbatim quote from a stored copy of its source and has passed an independent review. This is reference information, not legal advice: rules change, and the outcome depends on your circumstances.
Legal form in a country
What is the minimum capital (minimum endowment) on formation of the structure
No minimum share capital is required.
«7 Is there any requirement on the number of shares proposed to be issued and the number of founder members of a local company limited by shares? The Companies Ordinance has not prescribed any requirement for the number of shares proposed to be issued. The articles of a company with a share capital may state the maximum number of shares that the company may issue (section 85(2)). A local company limited by shares shall be formed by at least one founder member. 8 Is there any requirement on the minimum amount of paid-up capital upon application for incorporation or commencement of business? There is no requirement on the minimum amount of a company's paid-up capital under the Companies Ordinance. 9 Can the registered office of a local limited company be situated outside Hong Kong? No. The registered office must be situated in Hong Kong.»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
no minimum
«7 Is there any requirement on the number of shares proposed to be issued and the number of founder members of a local company limited by shares? The Companies Ordinance has not prescribed any requirement for the number of shares proposed to be issued. The articles of a company with a share capital may state the maximum number of shares that the company may issue (section 85(2)). A local company limited by shares shall be formed by at least one founder member. 8 Is there any requirement on the minimum amount of paid-up capital upon application for incorporation or commencement of business? There is no requirement on the minimum amount of a company's paid-up capital under the Companies Ordinance. 9 Can the registered office of a local limited company be situated outside Hong Kong? No. The registered office must be situated in Hong Kong.»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
Must at least one member of the governing body be resident in the country (zone)
HK residency is not required
«1 May non-Hong Kong residents incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong? Yes. Non-Hong Kong residents may incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong. If you do not often stay in Hong Kong or you are not familiar with the incorporation procedures, it is advisable for you to contact some local professional firms e.g. solicitors, accountancy or secretarial firms etc. for advice and/or appoint them to act on your behalf to set up a company in Hong Kong.»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
«31 When will the information of the company be available for search after incorporation? The particulars and image records of the registered documents of the company are available for search on the date of incorporation of the company. 32 What are the requirements of directors and company secretary of a company? 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. …»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
Hong Kong: no residency requirement for directors; company secretary must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong or be a Hong Kong firm.
«1 May non-Hong Kong residents incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong? Yes. Non-Hong Kong residents may incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong. If you do not often stay in Hong Kong or you are not familiar with the incorporation procedures, it is advisable for you to contact some local professional firms e.g. solicitors, accountancy or secretarial firms etc. for advice and/or appoint them to act on your behalf to set up a company in Hong Kong.»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
«31 When will the information of the company be available for search after incorporation? The particulars and image records of the registered documents of the company are available for search on the date of incorporation of the company. 32 What are the requirements of directors and company secretary of a company? 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. …»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
the Companies Ordinance imposes no residency requirement on directors
«1 May non-Hong Kong residents incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong? Yes. Non-Hong Kong residents may incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong. If you do not often stay in Hong Kong or you are not familiar with the incorporation procedures, it is advisable for you to contact some local professional firms e.g. solicitors, accountancy or secretarial firms etc. for advice and/or appoint them to act on your behalf to set up a company in Hong Kong.»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
«31 When will the information of the company be available for search after incorporation? The particulars and image records of the registered documents of the company are available for search on the date of incorporation of the company. 32 What are the requirements of directors and company secretary of a company? 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. …»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
Which authority registers the structure and keeps its register
Registration can be checked in the public Companies Registry
«31 When will the information of the company be available for search after incorporation? The particulars and image records of the registered documents of the company are available for search on the date of incorporation of the company. 32 What are the requirements of directors and company secretary of a company? 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. …»
Source: cr.gov.hk · source copy as of 2026-10-02
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