Tips for Choosing Registered Office Address

One of the requirements of the Hong Kong company formation process is to determine a company registered office address. This requirement is frequently acknowledged but rarely discussed. In this article, we look to provide guidance on how to approach selecting an appropriate Hong Kong registered office address.

1. What is a Registered Office Address and Why Is It Required?
A registered office address is the official address of a company (or partnership) that is used for the purpose of receiving statutory mail from the Hong Kong Government and relevant agencies. It is important to note that this address does not necessarily have to be the place where the company conducts its business activities.

A registered office address cannot be situated outside of Hong Kong and having one is required for all Hong Kong companies, as dictated by the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

2. Criteria for a Registered Office Address
While there are limited rules/regulations surrounding the use of a registered office address, there are certain restrictions:

1. The address has to be where all communications and notices to the company may be addressed to
2. It must be a physical address in Hong Kong
3. Cannot be a P.O. Box Address

3. Changing a Registered Office Address
It is possible for a Hong Kong company to change its registered office address. To do so, the company should provide a written notification to the Hong Kong Business Registration Office stating that the address has been changed. This notification should be provided within 1 month of the address change.

In the written notification, the Hong Kong company must provide the following:

Alternatively, instead of providing a written notification to the Business Registration Office, Hong Kong companies may complete and submit IRC 3111A. When submitting IRC 3111A, you may be required to provide documentation demonstrating proof of address, such as tenancy agreement or recent utility bill.

4. Can I Use My Personal Address?
Yes, many Hong Kong residents who are starting a business often do so from their own home. However, that might bring privacy concerns as the registered address is made to the public from the Hong Kong Government Company Registry website.

5. Can I Obtain a Registered Office Address From A Professional Service Provider?
Yes. Utilizing an address from a licensed corporate service provider who possesses a Trust or Company Service Provider License (“TCSP”) is a common practice.

Advantages of using licensed corporate service provider:

Conclusion
While the criteria behind selecting an address is not challenging to meet, consideration should still be made when incorporating a company in Hong Kong, maintaining the privacy and the ongoing business maintenance. The FastLane Group is a registered company secretary with a TCSP license and can provide a registered office address and one stop solution for those looking to incorporate and run a business in Hong Kong. Please contact the FastLane Group for help!