Hong Kong Company Search: A Buyer's Guide
By ChineseCheck Team
To search a Hong Kong company, use the Hong Kong Companies Registry's e-Search service on its e-Services Portal (e-services.cr.gov.hk). You can search without registering an account, and a Company Particulars Report, which lists the company's current directors, registered office, share capital, and shareholder information, costs HK$22 per company at the time of writing. Check the portal's current fee table before you search.
For buyers sourcing from China, a Hong Kong company usually turns up in one of three ways: as the seller on an invoice, as the holder of the bank account you are asked to pay, or as a "head office" in the supplier's marketing. This guide explains how to look the company up and, just as important, how to tell whether it is actually connected to the mainland supplier you checked.
Hong Kong and Mainland Companies Are Separate Systems
Hong Kong has its own company law and its own registry. A Hong Kong company does not appear in mainland China's company register, and a mainland company does not appear in Hong Kong's. A mainland search returning nothing for a Hong Kong company, or the reverse, is expected.
| Hong Kong | Mainland China | |
|---|---|---|
| Registry | Companies Registry, plus Business Registration Office (Inland Revenue Department) | Market regulation authorities |
| Main identifier | Business Registration Number (BRN) | 18-character Unified Social Credit Code |
| Official search | e-Search on the Companies Registry e-Services Portal | National company record system |
| Company name | Registered English and/or Chinese name | Registered Chinese name only |
For mainland companies, see our guide to searching China's company register.
Which Number Identifies a Hong Kong Company
Since 27 December 2023, the Companies Registry uses a Unique Business Identifier for the companies it administers. For most companies that identifier is the Business Registration Number: the first eight digits of the Business Registration Certificate number issued by the Inland Revenue Department. For companies incorporated on or after that date, the same number appears on the Certificate of Incorporation.
Some older companies have no BRN in the Inland Revenue Department's records. For these, the Registry converts the old company number into a "dummy" BRN with a letter prefix. For example, a local company with an old registry number of 12345 becomes C0012345. If a supplier gives you an old company number, expect it to appear in this converted form.
Source: Companies Registry, "Implementation of Unique Business Identifier" (official leaflet).
How to Search, Step by Step
- Get the exact registered name or number. Ask the supplier for the company's registered name as it appears on its Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration Certificate, and its BRN.
- Go to the e-Services Portal at e-services.cr.gov.hk and choose the e-Search services. You can search as an unregistered user and pay per search.
- Find the company and order its Company Particulars Report. This shows the company's current particulars, including directors, registered office, share capital, and shareholder information.
- Order filed documents if needed. Annual returns and other filings can be viewed as document images for a fee.
- Save what you found, with the date, alongside the supplier's documents.
The Registry also runs an e-Services Centre for in-person searches. Fees, service names, and screens change from time to time, so treat the portal as the authority.
Reading the Result for a Sourcing Deal
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact registered name | Must match the name on your invoice and bank details, character for character |
| Company status (shown in the search results) | A dissolved or deregistered company cannot be a valid counterparty |
| Incorporation date | A very new company handling large payments deserves questions |
| Directors and shareholders | Do they connect to the mainland supplier's shareholders or legal representative? |
| Registered office | Many Hong Kong companies use a company secretary's address; that alone is not a red flag |
Linking a Hong Kong Company to a Mainland Supplier
The most important question for a buyer is usually not "does this Hong Kong company exist?" but "is it really part of the supplier I checked?" Shared branding is not evidence. Look for:
- the same individuals as shareholders or directors in both companies;
- a mainland company record that lists the Hong Kong company as a shareholder;
- a contract signed by the company that actually receives your money.
If none of these exist, treat the Hong Kong company as a separate counterparty and check it on its own. Our guide on making sure the licence, contract, and bank account name the same company explains why.
Case: A mainland licence, a Hong Kong account, no link between them
A Gulf-based chemicals buyer first searched using a number that turned out to be a Hong Kong business registration number, which is why a mainland search found nothing. That number belonged to a Hong Kong company with a different name, at a Kowloon office. The supplier then provided a genuine mainland licence for a trading and technical-services company. The bank details named the Hong Kong company and an offshore US dollar account. No shareholder or director linked the two. The buyer was advised to require the invoice and bank account in the name of the mainland company. (Details changed to protect the buyer.)
Regulated Businesses: Check the Licence Register Too
A company registration only proves a company exists. If the business is regulated in Hong Kong, the relevant regulator's licence register is the stronger check. For example, travel agents must hold a licence from the Travel Industry Authority, which publishes a register of licensed travel agents.
Case: A travel company with no licence and a borrowed name
A buyer asked us about a travel company that claimed to be based in Hong Kong. We found no mainland registration and no entry in Hong Kong's register of licensed travel agents, and its name was almost identical to that of a genuine Hong Kong luxury travel company. We advised against paying. A company name can be registered by anyone; a regulator's licence cannot be borrowed. (Details changed.)
Red Flags
- The bank account is in Hong Kong but the contract and licence are mainland, with no link between the companies.
- The company was set up very recently, just before a large order.
- The name closely imitates a well-known company.
- Paperwork shows identifiers Hong Kong does not issue, or numbers that don't match the registry.
- A regulated business cannot be found in its regulator's register.
Getting a Hong Kong Company Report from ChineseCheck
ChineseCheck's standard reports cover mainland Chinese companies. For Hong Kong companies, our team prepares reports on request, combining the registry search with checks on how the company connects to any mainland supplier. Email support@chinesecheck.com with the company name and BRN, and we will tell you what we can provide and the price before starting.
Checking a mainland supplier as well?
A ChineseCheck credit report shows a mainland company's registration, shareholders, court records, and penalties in English. A single-company report is $299.
View a Sample ReportFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Hong Kong company search free?
The search portal is open to the public without registration, but reports are charged. A Company Particulars Report was HK$22 per company at the time of writing; check the portal's current fees.
What is a BRN?
The Business Registration Number is the first eight digits of a Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate number. Since 27 December 2023 it has served as the Unique Business Identifier for most companies administered by the Companies Registry.
Why can't I find a Hong Kong company in China's company register?
Because the two are separate systems. Hong Kong companies are registered in Hong Kong only. Search the Hong Kong Companies Registry instead.
Does a Hong Kong company have to publish its accounts?
Private companies in Hong Kong generally do not make their financial statements available through the company search. The Company Particulars Report covers directors, registered office, share capital, and shareholder information.
Sources
- Hong Kong Companies Registry, e-Services Portal and e-Search FAQs: cr.gov.hk. Checked October 2026.
- Hong Kong Companies Registry, "Implementation of Unique Business Identifier" leaflet.
- Travel Industry Authority, licensing registers: tia.org.hk.
- Cases are from buyer enquiries to ChineseCheck in 2026, anonymized.
