Hong Kong Offshore Companies

HONG KONG OFFSHORE COMPANIES

Hong Kong is, of course, well known as a major international center. It is located on the South East Coast of China and became part of China on 1 July, 1997. It is a Special Administration Region (SAR) within the People's Republic of China with its own legislature and courts. English and Chinese are the official languages and incorporation documents may be in either language or both.

NEW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES - 2014

As of September, 2014, at least one Director of Hong Kong companies must be a person. Other Directors may be a person or a corporate.

OVERVIEW OF KEY FEATURES

There is no "offshore" legislation in Hong Kong. All companies are incorporated under the same legislation, whether they are doing business locally or "offshore". (HK Company Ordinance, 1997 version, as amended 2004). What makes Hong Kong companies similar to offshore companies, such as those incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is the tax free status of such companies, under certain circumstances. If a Hong Kong company does NO business in Hong Kong and derives no income from Hong Kong sources, then it is not taxable in Hong Kong. So as long as a Hong Kong company does business anywhere else in the world, it is in effect, an offshore company, similar to BVI IBC's.

A Hong Kong company can even set up and staff a Hong Kong office as a COST CENTER and pay no taxes. For example, a company outside of Hong Kong could set up a Finance Management Center for its company or group, and pay no tax, so long as it receives no income, only expenses. Similarly one could set up a tax free document processing company in Hong Kong as a Cost Center.

Hong Kong companies are advantageous because they are not perceived as "tax havens"; the legal system is based on British common law; the political environment is stable; finance and banking is excellent, and there are no exchange controls. A Hong Kong company may do business anywhere in the world and there is no requirement for the Directors and Shareholders to be resident in Hong Kong.

Directors and Shareholders are in both the Government and Public record, but privacy can be maintained through nominees provided by Maritime International Ltd. Only the nominees appear in the Government and Public records. There is no requirement to report the Beneficial Owner to the Government, if nominees are used. A further difference between Hong Kong and most other offshore jurisdictions is that the company must have a Secretary resident in Hong Kong. This is provided by Maritime International Ltd's Hong Kong company, at no extra cost.

QUICK REVIEW OF HONG KONG OFFSHORE COMPANIES

HONG KONG OFFSHORE COMPANY FEES

• Click Here for Typical Hong Kong Offshore Incorporation Fees
• Compare Hong Kong Company Fees to Other Jurisdictions
• Request a No-Obligation Quotation or Place an Order for a Hong Kong Company
• View Shelf Companies (ready-made companies) Available

OFFSHORE COMPANY MANAGEMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE

Nominee Directors & Shareholders, Corporate Identity Package, Mailing Address, Basic Account Maintenance, Invoicing Services, Employee Contracts, Document Safekeeping and general Corporate services. More details are available on our Management Services page.

PRIVACY

The names of the Directors and Shareholders are required to be filed with the Government and they are also available in the public record.

Privacy can be provided through the use of a nominee Director and Shareholder. Only the nominee names are filed with the Government and appear in the public record. The Beneficial Owner of the company and the Power of Attorney issued to him/her to run the company, are not required to be filed with the Government or placed in the public record.

NAME RESTRICTIONS

The following names require licensing to be used: Bank, Insurance, Assurance, Re-Insurance, Trust, Trustee, Savings, Royal, Asset management, Fund Management, Investment Fund, Building Society, Municipal, Chartered, Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Association, Kaifong, Mass Transit, Underground Railway. Names denoting any connection to local, state or national Governments are generally prohibited.

SUFFIXES TO DENOTE LIMITED LIABLITY

The following can be used: Limited or Ltd only. Note: The word "Company" can be used as part of the company name if desired.

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