How Hong Kong company name approval works

Company Name Approval Process in Hong Kong

The Companies Registry checks every proposed name against the Index of Company Names. The Registrar must be satisfied the name complies with the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) before it can be used. A name is approved only upon successful incorporation with Form NNC1, which the applicant submits together with Form IRBR1 for business registration. The Certificate of Incorporation the Registrar issues confirms the approved name. If the name is rejected, you must submit a different one.

Hong Kong Company Name Search

Search the public Index of Company Names before filing your incorporation documents. The Companies Registry's free online index is the only authoritative source for determining name availability. Use it to confirm your proposed name is not already taken or too similar to an existing entry.

Companies Registry Name Approval Hong Kong

The Registrar examines every proposed name against the statutory grounds for refusal in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). A name identical to one already on the index will not be approved. Use is also refused if the name would constitute a criminal offence, if it is offensive, or if it suggests a connection with the government without consent. The Registrar may direct a company to change a name that is too similar to an existing one.

Hong Kong Company Name Rules

Under Cap. 622, a company may register with an English name, a Chinese name, or both. The English name may use Roman letters. The Chinese name must use traditional Chinese characters. A name must not be misleading about the nature of the company's business.

Reserve Company Name Hong Kong

Hong Kong provides no formal procedure to reserve a name before incorporation. File Form NNC1 and pay the incorporation fee to secure a name. Until the Registrar issues the Certificate of Incorporation, another applicant can register the same name.