What non-resident founders should know about directors, the company secretary, registered office, banking and annual compliance.
Reviewed against Hong Kong Companies Registry guidance · 2 October 2026
The Hong Kong Companies Registry confirms that a non-Hong Kong resident can be appointed as a director. At least one director of a private company must be a natural person. The company secretary has separate Hong Kong presence requirements.
If the company secretary is an individual, that person should ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. If the secretary is a body corporate, its registered office or place of business should be in Hong Kong. A sole director cannot also act as the company secretary of the same private company.
The company needs a registered office in Hong Kong for statutory communications. This is separate from the question of where the business actually operates or is managed for tax purposes.
The Companies Registry requires a local private company to deliver an annual return in Form NAR1 within the prescribed period after each incorporation anniversary. Changes to directors, company secretary and other particulars can require separate filings.
Company formation and bank-account approval are different processes. A bank will usually want to understand ownership, business activity, counterparties, source of funds and expected transaction flow. Non-resident ownership does not create an automatic entitlement to an account.
Read the full EWO Hong Kong jurisdiction guide →
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