What is the Significant Controllers Register (SCR) in Hong Kong and who is a significant controller?
Every Hong Kong company except listed companies must keep a Significant Controllers Register recording the individuals and entities who ultimately own or control it. A significant controller holds more than 25% of shares or votes, can appoint or remove most directors, or exercises significant influence or control.
Who must keep one Local companies incorporated under Cap. 622 or its predecessor, excluding listed companies. Registered non-Hong Kong companies are not covered by this regime.
Who is a registrable person (significant controller) Anyone who, directly or indirectly:
- holds more than 25% of issued shares (or capital or profit rights where there is no share capital);
- holds more than 25% of the voting rights;
- has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board; or
- has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the company, or over a trust or non-corporate firm that meets any of these tests.
A registrable legal entity (for example a corporate shareholder) can also appear on the register. Shares held through a nominee count as held by the person for whom the nominee acts.
Key duties
- Take reasonable steps to identify significant controllers, including reviewing the register of members and sending notices.
- A person who receives a notice has one month to respond.
- Keep the register in Hong Kong, at the registered office or another notified place.
- The register is not filed with the Registry, but law-enforcement bodies can demand access.
Overseas controllers need tracing through the chain of ownership.
Legal basis
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), Part 12, Division 2A (significant controllers register)
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
- What is a designated representative for the Significant Controllers Register, and who can be one?A designated representative is the person the company appoints to give law enforcement officers information about the Significant Controllers Register on request. It must be a Hong Kong-resident shareholder, director or employee who is an individual, or an accounting professional, legal professional or licensed TCSP.
- Which statutory registers and records must a Hong Kong company keep?A company must keep a register of members, a register of directors, a register of company secretaries, a significant controllers register, and records of members' resolutions and meetings. Some records have a 10-year retention period. They are kept at the registered office or another Hong Kong place.
- 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.