Can a deregistered or struck-off Hong Kong company be restored?
Yes, but the route depends on how it was dissolved. A deregistered company can only be restored by a court order. A struck-off company can be restored by court order or, if it was operating when struck off, by administrative restoration within 20 years. Companies dissolved by winding up cannot use administrative restoration.
After deregistration
- Restoration generally requires a court order (s.765), applied for within 20 years after dissolution (s.766). The Registrar can restore a company on its own initiative only if it was deregistered by the Registrar's mistake (s.763).
- Once the court order is in hand and the documents are in order, the Registry restoration can take around two months.
- A creditor or other aggrieved party may also apply to court for restoration.
After striking off
- Court restoration is possible.
- Administrative restoration through the Registrar (s.760) is possible within 20 years of dissolution if the company was operating at the time of striking off.
After winding up Administrative restoration is not available for companies dissolved by winding up or deregistration.
Name issues If another company has taken the same name in the meantime, the restored company must change it within 28 days.
Cost and effort Court applications add legal costs and time. Accordingly, deregister only when you are sure the company will not be needed and its affairs are fully settled; check assets, claims and contracts first.
Before dissolving Do not rely on restoration as an easy fallback. Confirm there are no disputes, unpaid taxes or unclaimed assets that would later require reopening the company.
Legal basis
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.760
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.763
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.765
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.766
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.770
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
- How do I declare a Hong Kong company dormant, and what does it exempt me from?A qualifying private company can pass a special resolution declaring itself dormant and deliver it to the Companies Registry. While dormant it is exempt from filing an annual return and from several other duties. It stops being dormant if it enters an accounting transaction or delivers a resolution to resume.
- What duties still apply to a dormant company in Hong Kong?A dormant company must still report changes in its registered office, directors and company secretaries, keep its registers, and renew its business registration certificate. It is exempt only from specified duties such as the annual return, the AGM, and, under s.447, audit and certain accounting requirements.
- How do I deregister a defunct Hong Kong company, step by step?Obtain a Notice of No Objection from the IRD, then file Form NDR1 with the Companies Registry within three months of that notice, with the HK$420 non-refundable fee. The company must be solvent, defunct and meet all statutory conditions. The Registry then publishes a Gazette notice, and the company is dissolved only if no objection is received within 3 months of that notice.
- What is the difference between deregistration, winding up and striking off in Hong Kong?Deregistration is a cheap route for a defunct, solvent company that applies itself. Winding up is the formal process of settling accounts and distributing assets, needed when there are debts or complexity. Striking off is initiated by the Registrar when a company appears not to be operating, and a company cannot apply for it.
- What is the IRD notice of no objection for deregistering a company, and how do I get it?It is a notice from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue stating there is no objection to the company being deregistered. Apply on Form IR1263 with a HK$270 non-refundable fee. The IRD normally issues the notice within 21 working days. You should then file Form NDR1 with the Companies Registry within three months of the notice.