HKSAR Companies Registry
HKSAR v Bao Choy Yuk Ling
HK Court of Final Appeal, 5-Jun-2023
Great news that the CFA has unanimously quashed the conviction of journalist Bao Choy, who looked up vehicle owner information when investigating triad involvement in the Yuen Long attacks. But sad that the courts below interpreted the law in such a draconian way. The ruling is a pushback against Govt prosecution of the media. It has important implications for journalistic use of other public registers, including the Companies Registry and Land Registry.
HK Court of Final Appeal, 5-Jun-2023
Great news that the CFA has unanimously quashed the conviction of journalist Bao Choy, who looked up vehicle owner information when investigating triad involvement in the Yuen Long attacks. But sad that the courts below interpreted the law in such a draconian way. The ruling is a pushback against Govt prosecution of the media. It has important implications for journalistic use of other public registers, including the Companies Registry and Land Registry.
Open access to Companies Registry information serves the public interest, outweighing privacy concerns
South China Morning Post, 29-Apr-2021
An op-ed from Gordon Jones, former Companies Registrar.
South China Morning Post, 29-Apr-2021
An op-ed from Gordon Jones, former Companies Registrar.
Former Companies Registrar says HK's reputation will suffer if access to Companies Registry data is curbed
Apple Daily, 27-Apr-2021
Apple Daily, 27-Apr-2021
HK's zealous anti-doxxing campaign could make it even easier to hide dirty money in the city
CNN, 20-Apr-2021
CNN, 20-Apr-2021
Government misled LegCo over HKIDs
A quick Sunday search using a single popular name finds 8 pairs of matching masked HKIDs in the Companies Registry. There must be hundreds or thousands of other such pairs on other names - yet the Government claimed on Friday that it could only find 8 in the entire database. (Updated 13-Apr). (12-Apr-2021)
A quick Sunday search using a single popular name finds 8 pairs of matching masked HKIDs in the Companies Registry. There must be hundreds or thousands of other such pairs on other names - yet the Government claimed on Friday that it could only find 8 in the entire database. (Updated 13-Apr). (12-Apr-2021)
Kazuo Okada v Registrar of Companies and Tomohiro Okada
HK Court of First Instance, 19-Dec-2018
Mr Okada applies for judicial review of the Registrar's decision to withold registration of documents relating to a disputed change of directors of Okada Holdings Ltd, the majority shareholder of Universal Entertainment Corp. The court dismisses the application on its merits.
HK Court of First Instance, 19-Dec-2018
Mr Okada applies for judicial review of the Registrar's decision to withold registration of documents relating to a disputed change of directors of Okada Holdings Ltd, the majority shareholder of Universal Entertainment Corp. The court dismisses the application on its merits.
Companies Registry illegally overcharged users HK$3.6bn
The CFA has ruled that Trading Funds must not seek distributable profit or pay "notional tax". Webb-site finds that the Companies Registry has overcharged users HK$3.6bn since 1998, making up to a 94% return on fixed assets against a target 5.7%. The illegal excess should now be returned by waiving fees, including scrapping the Great Paywall of HK on corporate information. It should not take another judicial review to do so. (19-Nov-2018)
The CFA has ruled that Trading Funds must not seek distributable profit or pay "notional tax". Webb-site finds that the Companies Registry has overcharged users HK$3.6bn since 1998, making up to a 94% return on fixed assets against a target 5.7%. The illegal excess should now be returned by waiving fees, including scrapping the Great Paywall of HK on corporate information. It should not take another judicial review to do so. (19-Nov-2018)
Hong Kong's not-so-free economy
The US-based Heritage Foundation has, as always, ranked HK as the freest economy in the World. For once, the Government doesn't accuse foreign forces of interfering in HK's internal affairs. But this rosy view is not held by those who take the time to study the domestic economy. Here are a few things that Heritage may have overlooked. (4-Feb-2018)
The US-based Heritage Foundation has, as always, ranked HK as the freest economy in the World. For once, the Government doesn't accuse foreign forces of interfering in HK's internal affairs. But this rosy view is not held by those who take the time to study the domestic economy. Here are a few things that Heritage may have overlooked. (4-Feb-2018)
HK journalists, academics fear new requirement when using online companies register
South China Morning Post, 2-May-2016
South China Morning Post, 2-May-2016
One registration, two companies
Webb-site reveals how a UK company registered in HK and then swapped names with another one, which illegally kept the HK registration. That company is now a subsidiary of UK-listed Cobham plc. (7-Mar-2016)
Webb-site reveals how a UK company registered in HK and then swapped names with another one, which illegally kept the HK registration. That company is now a subsidiary of UK-listed Cobham plc. (7-Mar-2016)
Deception behind the Companies Registry paywall
On International Open Data Day, we reveal a network of knock-off companies using the CIBC, Credit Suisse and BNP brands, based in HK with subsidiaries in the UK and New Zealand. If those registries were not free and open, the deception would remain undiscovered. We call on HK Registrar Ada Chung to tear down this paywall. (5-Mar-2016)
On International Open Data Day, we reveal a network of knock-off companies using the CIBC, Credit Suisse and BNP brands, based in HK with subsidiaries in the UK and New Zealand. If those registries were not free and open, the deception would remain undiscovered. We call on HK Registrar Ada Chung to tear down this paywall. (5-Mar-2016)
HK companies see record closures, slowest growth since 2003
Webb-site reveals that 2015 saw the slowest net growth in HK companies since the recession of 2003 and record levels of dissolution. Market forces may still be alive though, with about half of 2007's companies already closed, despite the Government's increasing intervention. We don't need an Innovation and Technology Bureau, but we do need removal of Government barriers to information and competition - and they could start by removing the paywall on public registries. (2-Jan-2016)
Webb-site reveals that 2015 saw the slowest net growth in HK companies since the recession of 2003 and record levels of dissolution. Market forces may still be alive though, with about half of 2007's companies already closed, despite the Government's increasing intervention. We don't need an Innovation and Technology Bureau, but we do need removal of Government barriers to information and competition - and they could start by removing the paywall on public registries. (2-Jan-2016)
HK Companies Registry finds new way to milk its monopoly
Company announcement, 19-Dec-2014
The CR has the monopoly on companies register information; last year it made a pre-tax profit of HK$347m on $606m of fees, including $70m of search fees, so it would still make a huge profit without charging to see the data. The principles of open data for public sector information require it to abolish the pay-wall and let the market innovate presentations and utilities for the data. Same goes for the Land Registry.
Company announcement, 19-Dec-2014
The CR has the monopoly on companies register information; last year it made a pre-tax profit of HK$347m on $606m of fees, including $70m of search fees, so it would still make a huge profit without charging to see the data. The principles of open data for public sector information require it to abolish the pay-wall and let the market innovate presentations and utilities for the data. Same goes for the Land Registry.
James Fu Lok Man v Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data
HK Administrative Appeals Board, 16-Apr-2013
James Fu complained to the PCPD that the Companies Registry had disclosed his name as the complainant regarding the deregistration by his brother George of a family company, Coronet Leather Ware Co Ltd. The AAB held that in the circumstances, disclosure to George Fu was proper and DPP3 was not breached, so James's complaint against the PCPD is unsubstantiated. However, the AAB also found that the Companies Registry should not have disclosed James' identity by copying the letter to third parties.
HK Administrative Appeals Board, 16-Apr-2013
James Fu complained to the PCPD that the Companies Registry had disclosed his name as the complainant regarding the deregistration by his brother George of a family company, Coronet Leather Ware Co Ltd. The AAB held that in the circumstances, disclosure to George Fu was proper and DPP3 was not breached, so James's complaint against the PCPD is unsubstantiated. However, the AAB also found that the Companies Registry should not have disclosed James' identity by copying the letter to third parties.
PCPD statement on shelving legislative proposals on Companies Registry
HK Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, 2-Apr-2013
HK Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, 2-Apr-2013
HKIDs and Government secrecy
Webb-site calls on Government to abandon plans to restrict access to HKIDs, and instead to promote their use as unique identifiers of individuals and eliminate their misuse as authenticators. A media exemption would imply media controls. We launch an index of HKIDs which are already on the web. The Companies Registry and Land Registry should tear down the pay-wall and provide open online access to all documents. (12-Feb-2013)
Webb-site calls on Government to abandon plans to restrict access to HKIDs, and instead to promote their use as unique identifiers of individuals and eliminate their misuse as authenticators. A media exemption would imply media controls. We launch an index of HKIDs which are already on the web. The Companies Registry and Land Registry should tear down the pay-wall and provide open online access to all documents. (12-Feb-2013)
HK Journalists Association strongly opposes withholding of directors data from public
Media release, 9-Jan-2013
Media release, 9-Jan-2013
HK proposes law making it harder to identify directors
| Your ID number is not a password
Bloomberg, 8-Jan-2013
See our article of 8-Nov-2010 for comments from us, and the Law Society, on why the Government should not be obfuscating ID numbers.
Bloomberg, 8-Jan-2013
See our article of 8-Nov-2010 for comments from us, and the Law Society, on why the Government should not be obfuscating ID numbers.
HK recognises Principality of Hutt River
The HK Companies Registry seems prepared to register overseas companies incorporated in an Australian farm not recognised by the UN or any of its members. (21-Jan-2012)
The HK Companies Registry seems prepared to register overseas companies incorporated in an Australian farm not recognised by the UN or any of its members. (21-Jan-2012)
Your ID number is not a password
There is a common misconception that HK identity card numbers are secrets, a misconception that Government is promoting by its policy actions, putting us on the road to increased abuse of the HKID and higher economic losses from fraud. To prevent this, the register of ID numbers and names should be published, after a transition to allow commercial abusers to stop abusing the ID for authentication. This article also looks at the unfulfilled potential of the Smart ID Card, including biometric authentication and electronic money. (8-Nov-2010)
There is a common misconception that HK identity card numbers are secrets, a misconception that Government is promoting by its policy actions, putting us on the road to increased abuse of the HKID and higher economic losses from fraud. To prevent this, the register of ID numbers and names should be published, after a transition to allow commercial abusers to stop abusing the ID for authentication. This article also looks at the unfulfilled potential of the Smart ID Card, including biometric authentication and electronic money. (8-Nov-2010)
Sign up for our free newsletter
Recommend Webb-site to a friend
Copyright & disclaimer, Privacy policy