The Hong Kong Representative Office (RO) is a form of business form exclusive to non-Hong Kong incorporated bodies (i.e. company incorporated not in Hong Kong) to register a place of representative or liaison office in Hong Kong.
How to open a Representative Office in Hong Kong?
Required documents for the registration of a Hong Kong representative office include: Application form, particulars of the chief officer, place of business in HK, and identity proof for the non-Hong Kong company.
What does a Representative Office do?
A representative office is an office established by a company or a legal entity to conduct marketing and other non-transactional operations, generally in a foreign country where a branch office or subsidiary is not warranted.
Is a branch a separate legal entity?
A Branch is a more independent entity that conducts business in its own name but still acts on behalf of the company. A Branch is not legally separate from the foreign parent company and so is also subject to the local laws governing the foreign parent company.
What is a representative office in China?
A Representative Office (often shorted to Rep Office or RO) is the simplest and fastest option for overseas businesses to set up an operation in China. To put Rep Office definition in the simplest terms, it allows a foreign company to engage in market research or business operations in China, but not to make a profit.
Is a branch office a legal entity?
Is the representative office in Hong Kong legal?
A representative office is not treated as a legal entity since it is actually the office of its foreign parent company to be set up temporarily for administrative tasks in another jurisdiction – here to mention is the example of Hong Kong. It is worth noticing that a representative office in Hong Kong can only serve non-profit purposes.
Can a foreign company set up an office in Hong Kong?
Foreign companies keen on exploring the viability of doing business in Hong Kong, or interested in using Hong Kong as a launching pad into the Asia Pacific, may wish to set up a Representative Office (RO).
How to establish a branch office in Hong Kong?
Entity name: the name of a branch office in Hong Kong needs to be identical to that of the parent company. Business activity: a branch can only carry out a business activity that is the same as that of the parent company. Entity’s key personnel: For a branch setup, only one authorized representative who is a Hong Kong resident is required.
Can a representative office in Hong Kong bear liability?
In most cases, due to having no legal standing, a representative office does not bear any liability in event of costs of debts. All the liabilities will be channeled back to its foreign parent company. Entity name: the name of a representative office in Hong Kong needs to be identical to that of the parent company.
