Hong Kong business registry search
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in Hong Kong
3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.
How do I search the business registry in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong business registry is operated by Hong Kong Companies Registry. It covers Private Company Limited by Shares. Search by business name to find the registered entity behind a trading name — free, no signup.
Step-by-step
- 1
Search the trading name you were given
Start with the name on the invoice, website or contract. It is often a trading name rather than the registered legal name.
- 2
Identify the legal entity behind it
Hong Kong Companies Registry records the legal entity. Matching a trading name to its registered entity is the whole point of a registry search — the two are frequently different.
- 3
Check the entity type
Hong Kong recognises Private Company Limited by Shares. Entity type determines liability and who is legally responsible, so it matters before you contract.
- 4
Note what the registry does not cover
Sole traders and unregistered activity may not appear at all. An absent record is not automatically proof of fraud — it can simply mean the business is not required to register.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Hong Kong business registry cover?
Hong Kong Companies Registry records Private Company Limited by Shares. Businesses that are not legally required to register — commonly small sole traders — may not appear.
Can I search the Hong Kong business registry by trading name?
Yes, and that is usually the practical starting point. The registry will link the name to the registered legal entity where the two differ.
Is a business registry search free in Hong Kong?
Yes. Name search and the public entry on Hong Kong Companies Registry are free. Only certified documents are chargeable.
What if a Hong Kong business has no registry entry?
It may not be required to register, or it may be trading under a different legal name. Ask for the registration number directly before assuming either.
How do I look up a Hong Kong company?
Use the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre (cr.gov.hk). Basic searches by name or CR number are available; detailed company particulars and document images are issued for a small per-document fee.
People also ask about search the business registry in Hong Kong
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the Hong Kong company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the Hong Kong Companies Registry are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official Hong Kong business registry?
The Hong Kong Companies Registry is the official public register of companies incorporated in Hong Kong. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.cr.gov.hk.
Related guides and tools
More Hong Kong guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
- Check if a company is active
See whether an entity is active, dissolved or struck off.
Hong Kong data
- Hong Kong company search
Search every Hong Kong Companies Registry record.