How much does a Hong Kong company secretary cost

How Much Does a Hong Kong Company Secretary Cost

Hong Kong company secretary fees vary with service level and provider. Every provider must hold a TCSP licence under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615). The fee reflects the scope of statutory compliance work the secretary performs, not merely the appointment itself.

A company secretary is a statutory requirement under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The secretary must be a natural person ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, or a body corporate with a registered office or place of business in Hong Kong. Most businesses appoint a corporate service provider rather than an individual, with the fee covering the ongoing compliance duties that keep the company in good standing.

Hong Kong Company Secretary Fees

Fees fall into two broad categories: basic compliance packages and full-service arrangements. A basic package includes maintaining the statutory registers, filing the annual return (Form NAR1) on time, and notifying the Registrar of Companies of any changes using forms such as ND2A, ND2B, and ND4. The fee for this level of service is lower because the provider handles only the mandatory filings and record-keeping.

A full-service arrangement adds tasks. These include preparing board resolutions, drafting written resolutions, advising on director duties, and managing the designated representative role for the Significant Controllers Register. The provider also ensures that customer due diligence records are maintained as required by the TCSP licence conditions. The fee is higher because it includes ongoing advisory support.

Company Secretary Service Price HK

The price varies by provider type. A solo practitioner who holds a TCSP licence may charge less than a larger corporate services firm, but the solo practitioner may have less capacity to handle urgent filings or complex queries. A firm with multiple licensed staff typically charges a premium for the assurance that filings such as Form ND2A (appointment or cessation of a secretary or director) and Form ND2B (change of particulars) are submitted within the statutory timeframes.

Most providers quote an annual fee rather than a monthly retainer. This annual fee covers the preparation and filing of the annual return, the maintenance of the statutory registers at the registered office or a prescribed place, and the notification of any changes to the Registrar. Some providers also include the preparation of the Significant Controllers Register and the designation of the representative for law enforcement access.

TCSP Licence Cost Hong Kong

The TCSP licence cost is a separate expense from the company secretary fee. A trust or company service provider must hold a licence from the Registrar of Companies under Cap. 615. The licence is valid for three years and must be renewed before it expires. The application fee and the annual renewal fee are set by the Registrar and are not part of the service fee that the provider charges to its clients.

The provider passes on the cost of maintaining its licence through its service fees. A provider that holds a licence must also meet customer due diligence and record-keeping requirements, which add to its operational costs. These costs are reflected in the price quoted to the client. A provider that does not hold a valid TCSP licence is committing an offence, and the client should verify the licence on the public register of licensees before engaging the provider.

Corporate Secretary Fees Hong Kong

Corporate secretary fees also depend on whether the company requires additional services beyond the statutory minimum. A company that needs assistance with the Significant Controllers Register, including identifying significant controllers who hold more than 25% of the issued shares or voting rights, may pay a higher fee. A company that requires the secretary to act as the designated representative for law enforcement inquiries will also pay more.

The fee structure may include a fixed annual charge plus a per-transaction fee for filings such as Form ND4 (notice of resignation of a secretary or director) or Form NR2 (notice of location of registers and company records). Some providers offer a flat annual fee that covers an unlimited number of changes, while others charge separately for each filing.

The cost also reflects the provider's own compliance burden. Every TCSP-licensed provider must maintain its own customer due diligence records, keep a register of its clients, and report suspicious transactions to the authorities. These obligations are part of the Anti-Money Laundering regime and add to the provider's overhead, which is passed on to the client.

When comparing quotes, ask what is included in the fee. A low price may cover only the annual return and nothing else, leaving the company to manage the Significant Controllers Register, the statutory registers, and the filing of changes on its own. A higher price should include the full range of statutory duties that the Companies Ordinance requires of the secretary.