Your company name is not just a branding decision — in Hong Kong, it is a legal and compliance matter governed by the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) and enforced by the Companies Registry. Get it wrong, and your application is rejected. The Companies Registry does not refund lodgement fees for rejected or resubmitted applications, and a naming error at this stage can delay your entire incorporation by days or weeks.
This guide covers every rule you need to know before you submit, including restricted words, availability checks, English versus Chinese name requirements, and what happens if your chosen name gets turned down.
Naming Rules and Restricted Words
The Companies Registry applies a structured, rule-based review to every proposed company name. Understanding the rules in advance is the most reliable way to avoid rejection.
The most fundamental rules:
Every Hong Kong private limited company name must end with the word "Limited" in full — not the abbreviation "Ltd." English names using "Ltd." will not be approved. Chinese company names must end with the characters 有限公司. There is no exception to either of these requirements.
Hong Kong does not allow a company name that mixes English letters with Chinese characters in a single name. You may register an English name, a Chinese name, or both — but each must stand alone and independently meet all statutory requirements. A bilingual name that combines both scripts in a single string will be rejected.
Grounds for automatic rejection:
- The name is identical to or already appears in the Companies Registry's Index of Company Names
- The name is the same as or deceptively similar to the name of another existing body corporate
- The name is offensive, obscene, or contrary to public interest
- The name implies a connection with the Hong Kong Government, the Central People's Government, or any public body without genuine justification and prior approval
- The name misleads the public about the nature, scope, or legality of the company's activities
- The use of the name would constitute a criminal offence in the Registrar's opinion
Restricted words requiring prior approval:
Certain words are restricted under subsidiary legislation — specifically the Companies (Words and Expressions in Company Names) Order (Cap. 622A) — and require the prior consent of the Registrar or a relevant authority before they can be used. These include:
- Bank (銀行) — requires consent of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155). Using "Bank" without HKMA approval is a criminal offence.
- Insurance / Assurance (保險) — restricted under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41)
- Stock Exchange / Unified Exchange — restricted under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
- Trust / Trustee (信託 / 受託) — restricted under Cap. 622A
- Chamber of Commerce (商會) — restricted
- Savings (儲蓄) — restricted
- Kaifong (街坊) — restricted
- Levy (徵費) — restricted
- Tourist Board / Tourist Association (旅遊發展局 / 旅遊協會) — restricted
- Royal — implies a connection with the British Crown; rarely approved for commercial entities
- Government / Authority / Bureau / Municipal — implies official status; approval practically never granted for private companies
- University — requires approval from the Education Bureau
- Certified Public Accountant / CPA (執業會計師 / 核數師 / 會計師 / 註冊核數師) — restricted under the Professional Accountants Ordinance
Using any restricted word without the required prior approval will result in rejection. There is no partial approval or grace period.
Names that imply misleading activities:
Even if your name does not contain a specifically restricted word, the Registrar may reject it if it suggests business activities the company is not licensed or qualified to carry out. For example, a name implying financial advisory services when the company has no relevant licence, or a name suggesting medical services without appropriate regulatory approval, can be refused on the grounds that it misleads the public.
Checking Name Availability
Before you submit an incorporation application, you must check whether your proposed name is already taken. Hong Kong does not offer any system to reserve a company name. The only way to secure a name is to file your incorporation application — and if someone else files first with the same name, yours will be rejected.
How to check availability:
The Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre (available at cr.gov.hk) allows you to search the Index of Company Names. You can also use the Company Search Mobile Service app. Both tools are free.
Important: when conducting a name search, enter only the distinctive part of your name — do not include spaces, punctuation marks, or the ending terms "Company Limited," "Limited," "Company," or 有限公司. The search is case-insensitive for English names.
One critical technical note: the search system only recognises English or Traditional Chinese characters. If you input Simplified Chinese characters, the system may return a "no matching record found" result even when a similar name exists in Traditional Chinese — giving you a false sense of availability. Always search in Traditional Chinese, not Simplified.
How similarity is assessed:
Availability does not mean approval. Even if your exact name is not already registered, the Registrar can still reject or later direct you to change your name if it is "too like" that of an existing company. Under Section 111(6) of the Companies Ordinance, a name is treated as "the same as" an existing name if the only differences are:
- Punctuation and spaces
- The type of company ending (Limited vs. Company Limited vs. 有限公司)
- Common words like "Hong Kong," "The," or "International" added to an otherwise identical core name
- Singular versus plural forms
In practice, simply adding "Hong Kong" or "International" to an existing company name will not save your application if the core name is already registered.
Trademark clearance is separate:
Name availability at the Companies Registry does not give you any trademark rights. If your company name is also your brand name, you should conduct a separate trademark search through the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department. Registering a company name and registering a trademark are entirely different processes with different legal outcomes.
English vs Chinese Company Names
One of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of Hong Kong company naming is the relationship between English and Chinese names.
You have three options:
- Register an English name only (must end with "Limited")
- Register a Chinese name only (must end with 有限公司)
- Register both an English name and a Chinese name simultaneously
If you register both, the English and Chinese names are treated as two completely separate and independent names — not a translation of each other. This means your Chinese name does not have to be a direct translation of your English name, and vice versa. However, each name must independently comply with all the naming rules above, and each is subject to its own availability check.
You cannot create a single name that combines English and Chinese characters — for example, "SME Brothers 創業兄弟 Limited" as a single registered name is not permitted. The English and Chinese versions must each stand as a separate, self-contained name.
If you register both, both names will appear on your Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate, and either can be used for official purposes.
Practical considerations for Chinese names:
Chinese company names are subject to additional technical standards regarding character combinations and formatting. Common mistakes include characters that create misleading meanings when read in full, names that phonetically resemble restricted terms, or names that imply government affiliation through character choice even if the individual characters are not restricted. If you are registering a Chinese name and are not a native Chinese speaker, professional review is strongly recommended before submission.
What Happens If Your Name Is Rejected
A rejected name does not cancel your application entirely — but it does trigger a resubmission process that costs you time and, in some cases, additional fees.
What actually happens:
The Companies Registry notifies you (or your incorporation agent) that the proposed name is unacceptable, with a brief reason. You are then required to propose an alternative name. Once a new name is submitted and passes the review, the incorporation process continues. There is no additional government fee for resubmitting a name — but if you submitted your full incorporation application (NNC1) and paid the government fee of HKD 1,720 before the name issue was identified, that fee is not refunded.
The Registrar's ongoing powers after registration:
Even after your company is successfully incorporated, the Registrar retains the power to direct you to change your name in the following situations:
- Within 12 months of registration: if the name is the same as a name that was on the register at the time of incorporation, or too similar to a name on the register at that time
- Within 5 years of registration: if misleading information was provided to obtain the name
- Within 3 months of registration: if the name is the same as a name that should have appeared on the Index at the time of registration but did not
- At any time: if a court orders you to stop using the name
If you are directed to change your name and fail to comply, you are committing an offence under the Companies Ordinance.
To avoid rejection — practical checklist:
- Search the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre using Traditional Chinese characters
- Avoid adding generic distinguishing words like "Hong Kong," "International," or "Group" to an existing registered name
- Check the list of restricted words under Cap. 622A before choosing your name
- If your name includes any industry-specific term (financial, medical, educational, legal), confirm whether prior regulatory approval is required
- Prepare two or three name alternatives in priority order before filing, so you can respond quickly if your first choice is rejected
- If registering a Chinese name, have it reviewed by someone fluent in written Chinese before submission
- Conduct a separate trademark search if your company name is also your brand identity
Ready to Register Your Hong Kong Company?
Choosing a compliant company name is just the first step. Once your name is approved, you will need to set up your company secretary, registered office address, director appointments, and post-incorporation compliance — all before you can start trading.
SMEBro handles the full incorporation process for Hong Kong companies, including name availability checks, document preparation, Companies Registry filing, company secretary appointment, and registered office address.
Our services include:
- Hong Kong Company Formation — end-to-end incorporation, remote or in-person
- Company Secretary Services — licensed TCSP, registered address, statutory filings
- Accounting, Auditing & Tax Filing — from day one of trading
- Bank Account Opening Support — traditional and digital banking guidance
- BUD Fund Applications — government funding once your company is active
