General

1 What is the new inspection regime of the Companies Register?

Pursuant to the new inspection regime under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) (“CO”), correspondence addresses instead of usual residential addresses (“URAs”) of directors and partial identification numbers (“IDNs”) instead of full IDNs of directors, company secretaries and other relevant persons would be made available on the Companies Register for public inspection. Similarly, companies may withhold from public inspection the URAs and full IDNs (except the first part) on the registers they kept.

2 What is the aim of making the relevant provisions of the new inspection regime?

The relevant provisions were made with a view to enhancing protection of sensitive personal information while keeping up the transparency and usefulness of the Companies Register by allowing the public to continue inspecting the Companies Register for the purposes under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).

3 When does the new inspection regime come into operation and what are its key features?

The new inspection regime is implemented in three phases. Details of the phased implementation are as follows –

Phase 1

From 23 August 2021, companies may replace usual residential addresses (“URAs”) of directors with their correspondence addresses, and replace full identification numbers (“IDNs”) of directors and company secretaries with their partial IDNs on their own registers for public inspection;
Phase 2

From 24 October 2022, URAs and full IDNs (“Protected Information”) on the Index of Directors on the Companies Register are replaced with correspondence addresses and partial IDNs for public inspection. Protected Information contained in documents filed for registration after commencement of this phase is not provided for public inspection. “Specified persons” could apply to the Companies Registry (“CR”) for access to Protected Information of directors and other persons; and
Phase 3

From 27 December 2023, data subjects could apply to CR for protecting from public inspection their Protected Information contained in documents registered with CR (“Withheld Information”), and replace such information with their correspondence addresses and partial IDNs. “Specified persons” could apply to CR for access to Withheld Information of directors and other persons.

4 Why is the new inspection regime implemented in three phases?

The full operation of the new inspection regime involves substantial system and operation modifications of the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (“ICRIS”). As such, a phased commencement of the regime is necessary to tie in with the revamp project for upgrading the ICRIS with targeted completion in end 2023, by then the ICRIS will have the capacity to cope with the requirements for full operation of the new inspection regime.

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