What is a Green Box (Company Kit Set)? An overview of the 7 major business certificates in the Hong Kong company green box (including the latest company law regulations)
The "green box" after registration of a Hong Kong company is a set of important documents such as articles of association, seal and statutory records, which proves that the company is legally established and operates in a regular manner, however, with the trend of e-commerce, the necessity of its physical form is diminishing gradually.
- The "Green Box" is a document package established after the formation of a Hong Kong company, containing 7 major documents including the company's articles of association, seal, and statutory record book.
- New companies established after 2014 do not need to use the corporate seal (steel seal), and the necessity of a physical green box has gradually decreased.
- The documents in the green box can be stored in electronic form, depending on the management needs of the company itself.
- After the company is deregistered, the green box documents must be retained for at least 6 years, and no seal may be used in the name of the company thereafter.
What is a Green Box / Company Kit Set?
A green box with company information
The "Green Box" is a set of important documents and seals provided by the secretarial firm after the incorporation of a company in Hong Kong, so named because of its common dark green appearance.
It represents the legal incorporation of the company and is the key "proof of identity" document that proves the company's existence and regular operation.
Do I have to have a green box set to start a company?
2026 Latest Company Ordinance
Not necessarily! According to the latestHong Kong Companies OrdinanceThe need for physical green boxes is declining, as many documents in company green boxes can be converted to electronic form, and new companies formed after 2014 are not required to use a company seal.
The need for a physical company green box depends on the needs of the company itself. If it is convenient for the management of a secretarial company or if you want to centralise the storage of important company documents, you can choose a physical green box; however, if you are looking for convenience or if you want to simplify the business process, you can choose an electronic form.
What is included in the Corporate Green Box? What are the uses?
memorandum and articles of association
memorandum and articles of association（The Articles of Association (AA) is the core legal document of a company. It sets out in detail the rules for the internal operation of the company, the rights and interests of the shareholders, the duties of the directors and the procedures of the meetings, etc. It is the organisational terms and conditions for the operation of the company. All corporate behaviour must be in accordance with the Articles of Association.
Seal of Incorporation (Steel Seal)
The Common Seal is mainly used for signing important legal contracts or share certificates, representing the official authorisation of the company. The Common Seal can be used to sign important contracts such as the transfer or sale of shares of a company, or the sale and purchase of a building.
However, since the implementation of the new Companies Ordinance mentioned above, companies can choose not to use a steel seal, so many new companies do not have an incorporated seal.
Company Circular Seal
The Small Round Chop, also known as the Modification Chop or Small Round Chop, is constructed with two circles, the outer circle being the English name of the company plus the metre symbol, mostly in purple or blue.
It is mainly used for signing, confirming or stamping amendments to daily documents. It does not have significant legal binding power like a steel seal, and is mainly used for administrative matters.
Signed Fangzhi (Atomic Seal)
The Signature Chop, commonly known as the Signature Seal or Financial Seal, is the most commonly used seal in everyday business. It is mainly used for signing invoices, receipts, cheque remittances, bank documents and other daily business documents.
share certificate
A share certificate book is an official document used to record and issue shares in a company. Each page usually contains information such as the name of the shareholder, the total amount of share capital of each shareholder, and the number of the share certificate, which is the legal evidence of the shareholders' ownership of the company's share capital.
Statutory Records
The Statutory Book is an important register for recording the particulars of directors, company secretaries, shareholders, registration of charges and minutes of board meetings and general meetings of the company.
The Statutory Register is an important document of a company's compliance and must be properly updated and maintained in accordance with statutory requirements.
Minutes of Directors' Meetings
The Minutes of the Board of Directors' Meetings record the proceedings of each shareholders' meeting, the contents of the discussions, the resolutions made and the attendees, etc. These minutes are the basis for important decisions of the Company and serve as internal documents to demonstrate compliance. These records serve as the basis for important decisions and as internal company documents to demonstrate compliance.
How do I apply for a Company Green Box Set?
Upon incorporation of a company, the Companies Registry will deliver these documents to the registered agent of the company or the company secretary on behalf of the company. The Green Box is a safe-keeping box for important company documents, which must be kept secure and available for inspection at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if the green box is missing?
If you have accidentally lost your company's green box, you should contact your company's secretarial company or CPA firm that handled your company registration as soon as possible. They will assist you in replacing the required company statutory documents, such as re-applying for a copy of the Business Registration Certificate and re-engraving the company chop, etc. There is no need to worry too much.
What should I do with the Green Box if my company is cancelled?
According to the Company Ordinance, all canceled company documents must be retained for at least 6 years to address potential future situations such as tax audits, legal retrospectives, or debt settlements. Additionally, after a company is canceled, no company seals in the green box can be used, nor can contracts, transfers, or any transactions be conducted in the name of the company with third parties.
As these documents and articles are still legally the assets of the company after the company has been written off, any unauthorised use of company documents for commercial activities is an offence and may be liable to prosecution.
Hong Kong Professional Company Formation Service: Langfeng Business Consultants
Since our establishment in 2014, we have been providing one-stop Hong Kong company formation and management services to entrepreneurs. We are well aware of the difficulties of starting a business in Hong Kong, especially in the areas of proper management of the company's green box, compliance with various statutory documents, as well asBusiness Registration CertificateWe have a wealth of experience and a perfect process in the handling of the case, which is well recognised by our customers.
- Professional and reliable green box and document management services: From the collection and delivery of your company green box, we ensure accuracy at every step, so that your company's statutory documents and business registration remain valid and fully compliant.
- A comprehensive one-stop compliance programme: The scope of service covers all administrative matters related to Green Box, allowing you to manage your company's documents without any worries.
- Efficiency and timeliness: Responding quickly, replying to your needs immediately and helping you to complete the processes related to Green Box and company administration in the shortest possible time.
If you have any questions regarding the management of the company green box or the application for starting a company, please feel free to contact the Langfeng Business Consulting Team. We provide one-stop company formation services, assisting you from document preparation to ongoing compliance.
Extended Reading:
Hong Kong Company Setup Guide: 6 Major Steps, Costs, Required Documents
What is a company constitution?
What is the Certificate of Incorporation (CI)?
Top 3 things you need to prepare in advance to open a company in Hong Kong