Can I check or reserve a company name in Hong Kong before incorporating?
You can check a name for free on the Companies Registry's e-Services Portal, but you cannot reserve it. A name is only secured once the incorporation is registered, so pay promptly after the preliminary check passes. A clean search does not guarantee approval.
Checking availability
- Use the free name search on the e-Services Portal in "Exact Name Search" mode, typing the full name exactly as you plan to register it (traditional characters for Chinese).
- Also check the list of old names subject to a change-of-name direction, linked from the search result.
No reservation The Ordinance has no mechanism for reserving a company name. The Registry therefore advises paying fees as soon as the preliminary result appears when filing online; otherwise someone else may register the same name first.
A search is not a guarantee
- Registrability is confirmed only after the application is processed.
- If the name turns out unacceptable, the application can be rejected and the lodgement fee is not refunded.
Other checks worth making
- Trademark Register (Intellectual Property Department) to reduce infringement risk.
- Domain names and social handles.
- Whether the name is "too like" an existing name; the Registrar can order a change after a complaint even though this is not tested at incorporation.
A company that later wants a new name can change it by special resolution; the Registry fee is HK$295.
Legal basis
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.100
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.107
Sources
Applies to 2026 · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask a licensed professional before you act.
Related questions
- Which business structure should I choose in Hong Kong: sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company?Hong Kong offers sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited companies and, for overseas firms, branch or representative offices. The main trade-off is liability: a sole proprietor or general partner is personally liable without limit, while a limited company's members are liable only up to unpaid share capital.
- How do I set up a sole proprietorship in Hong Kong and what is my liability?Register the business with the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office within one month of starting trading. There is no separate legal entity, so you are personally liable without limit for the business's debts.
- How does a partnership work in Hong Kong, and what is a limited partnership?A partnership is two or more people carrying on business together for profit. In a general partnership each partner can bind the others and all are jointly liable for debts. A limited partnership has at least one general partner with full liability and limited partners liable only up to their contribution.
- What is a private company limited by shares in Hong Kong and why do most businesses choose it?It is a separate legal entity whose shareholders are liable only for any unpaid amount on their shares. It is the most common vehicle in Hong Kong because it protects personal assets and makes ownership easy to transfer, in exchange for statutory filing and record-keeping duties.
- Should an overseas company set up a branch, a representative office or a Hong Kong subsidiary?A branch is the overseas company itself trading in Hong Kong and must register as a non-Hong Kong company within one month. A representative office can only liaise or research, not trade for profit. A subsidiary is a separate Hong Kong company that ring-fences liability.