Hong Kong business registry search
Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.
Search Hong Kong Companies Registry at the official source
Use the Companies Registry e-Services Portal. For covered entities, BRN is the Unique Business Identifier; map older CR numbers using the official service before ordering documents.
Official access and fees vary. A human request is an enquiry, not a guaranteed extract or completed purchase.
How do I search the business registry in Hong Kong?
Use Hong Kong Companies Registry as a starting source for Hong Kong, then check its scope for the business form you need. Types can include Private Company Limited by Shares. A trading name may need a separate source or document; it does not automatically identify a legal entity. Official access requirements vary.
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.
Hong Kong: choosing and checking the right record
- Choose the correct source
- Use the Companies Registry's current e-Services Portal and its e-Search services. The former Cyber Search Centre workflow should not be treated as the current instructions. Select the record or document needed and check the applicable access rules.
- Confirm the entity
- Since 27 December 2023 the Business Registration Number is the key Unique Business Identifier for covered entities. If you have a former CR number, use the official mapping search; keep the original and mapped identifier clearly labelled.
Companies Registry e-Search and identifier mapping
Check current access and document options on the official Hong Kong Companies Registry site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the Hong Kong registry guide.
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?
Some sources index trading names; others require the legal name or a separate business-name search. Ask for the contracting entity's legal name and identifier when the relationship is unclear.
Is a business registry search free in Hong Kong?
LemReveal's basic lookup is free where supported. Official searches, records and documents have their own access conditions; check Hong Kong Companies Registry's current terms.
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 e-Services Portal, linked from cr.gov.hk. Search by legal name or Business Registration Number (BRN), and use the official mapping search if you only have a former CR number. Check the current access and fee rules for company particulars and document images.
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.