HONG KONG– Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 - (Archive)

Hong Kong Companies Registry had announced today the commencement of operation of the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (“the Amendment Ordinance”) with effect from 1 March 2018.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Amendment Ordinance, all companies incorporated in Hong Kong (except listed companies) are required to obtain and maintain up-to-date information on beneficial ownership by way of keeping a Significant Controllers Register.  The Register should be opened for inspection by law enforcement officers upon demand.

In this regard, the Companies Registry had issued the following today:

• Companies Registry External Circular No. 2 / 2018 – Commencement of Operation of the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 – Keeping of Significant Controllers Registers by Companies; and
• Guideline on the Keeping of Significant Controllers Registers by Companies

Form NR2 “Notice of Location of Registers and Company Records” has been revised for companies to report the location of the significant controllers register, where appropriate.

For enquiries relating to the new requirements, please contact Gloria Shum at gloria.shum@kensington-trust.com  or Serena Kwok at serena.kwok@kensington-trust.com .