Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 2/5/2019

 

Hong Kong

Foreign companies are allowed to incorporate their operations, register branches, or set up representative offices freely in Hong Kong with no restriction on ownership. Company directors need not be citizens of, nor reside in, Hong Kong. Reporting requirements are straightforward and not onerous. There is no distinction in law or practice between investment by foreign-controlled companies and those controlled by local interests. There are no disincentives to foreign investment such as limitations on the use or transfer of foreign currency, or any system of quotas, performance requirements, bonds, deposits, or other restrictive regulations.
To incorporate or register in Hong Kong, a foreign company should first file statutory declarations and submit the necessary documents to the Administration Section of the Companies Registry. Specific information on establishing an office in Hong Kong is available at:

New Companies Section
Companies Registry
14/F, Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2867-2587
Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk
Website: http://www.cr.gov.hk
Additional information including detailed step-by-step guidance for setting up in Hong Kong can also be found at http://www.investhk.gov.hk

Macau

There are no restrictions or constraints for establishing a company in Macau. There are however, regulations that govern various economic activities and specific licenses. Authorizations are required for certain types of businesses, such as banking, insurance, manufacturing, tourism, civil construction, education and telecommunications. All entities carrying out business activities in Macau must be registered with the Macau Commercial Registration Bureau, and with the Macau Finance Bureau. All legal and administrative procedures apply to all local and foreign individuals or organizations interested in setting up a company in Macau.

A limited liability company by quota in Macau and a branch of a company incorporated outside of Macau are the most common types of business entities operating in Macau. Foreign entities with only one-off or occasional contractual projects in Macau may choose to apply for a tax registration status on a project basis.
Investors may obtain details of the necessary procedures for setting up a business from the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


More Information

Hong Kong Macau Business Registration