Hong Kong company names: rules, banned words, search

Hong Kong company names are limited to Traditional Chinese or English. A name must end with the full suffix for a limited company (the Chinese-language equivalent, or “Limited”), sensitive words must be approved first, and availability should be confirmed through an ICRIS search before submitting.

Key takeaways

A name may be entirely Chinese, entirely English, or one of each; mixing Chinese and English letters in one name is prohibited
A name must end with the full Chinese-language suffix for “limited company” or with “Limited”; “Ltd.” is not accepted
Words such as bank, trust and government office must first be approved by the relevant authority before they can be used
ICRIS search results are for reference only; final approval rests with the Registrar of Companies
Registering a company name does not give trademark rights; brand protection requires a separate application to the Intellectual Property Department (IPD)

The 3 key legal restrictions on naming a Hong Kong company

Hong Kong company law has clear rules on company names. Before you come up with a brand, first check that it meets the following three points, to avoid rejection for breaching the rules.

Restriction 1: language and script rules

Hong Kong company names are fairly straightforward, and can usually take only one of the following three forms:

English name only
Chinese name only
Chinese and English names registered together

Note in particular that Chinese and English letters cannot be mixed in the same name (for example, a name that mixes English and Chinese characters, such as “Happy” followed by Chinese characters for “trading” and then “Limited”, is not permitted). In addition, there are mandatory rules on the ending:

English name: if you are registering a limited company, the name must end with “Limited” (please use the full spelling; do not write just “Ltd.”)
Chinese name: if you are registering a limited company, the name must end with the four-character Chinese term for “limited company”, and may use only Traditional Chinese characters

Restriction 2: avoid “offensive” or “misleading” words

Although Hong Kong's business environment is free, the Registrar has the power to refuse certain names. The following situations may all lead to refusal:

Offensive

Names containing words related to criminal activity, racial discrimination or vulgar language, or implying a link with triad organisations, are treated as offensive and refused.

Misleading

Words that could easily lead people to think the company is connected with the Hong Kong Government or departments of the Central People's Government are not allowed. For example: department, office, bureau, commission Ordinary private companies should avoid words like these, so that the Registry does not judge that they deliberately mislead the public.

Restriction 3: special words need the “consent of the Chief Executive”

Some words imply a special legal status or type of industry. To use them, you must obtain the Chief Executive's approval before registration. These Restricted words usually relate to regulated industries, including:

Restricted words	English equivalent
Chamber of Commerce	Chamber of Commerce
Bank	Bank
Trust	Trust
Tourist Association	Tourist Association
Kaifong	Kaifong

If your business has nothing to do with the special industries above, we recommend simply avoiding these words.

How do you confirm a company name is not a duplicate? A practical guide to company name searches

Once you have confirmed that the name does not breach the rules, the next step is to confirm whether anyone has already used it. The Hong Kong Companies Registry requires that a new company's name must not be the same as an existing company's name.

What counts as a duplicate name

Many founders think that adding an adjective makes it a new name. In fact, under the regulations, the following situations are treated as the “same name” and cause registration to fail:

Meaningless function words: for example, “The ABC Limited” and “ABC Limited” are treated as the same
Company type words: for example, “ABC Company Limited” and “ABC Limited” are treated as the same
Differences in typeface and symbols: for example, “A-B-C Limited” and “ABC Limited” are treated as the same

Make good use of the Cyber Search Centre (ICRIS)

The most accurate way to confirm whether a name is available is to use the official government tool, the Companies Registry Cyber Search Centre (ICRIS)”.

Go to the “Companies Registry Cyber Search Centre (ICRIS)”
Log in as an “Unregistered User”
Click “Search” > “Company Name”
Enter the name you have in mind (we recommend searching Chinese and English names separately)
If the results show “No records” and no highly similar existing company appears, the name is generally more likely to be available

Note that ICRIS can only filter out identical names; it cannot judge whether a name is “too similar” to someone else's, so this risk needs extra attention.

Further reading:[Hong Kong company search] How do you search through the Companies Registry? 5 search steps you can do yourself

The search is fine, so why worry about shadow-name risk?

Although the Cyber Search Centre is open to the public, the system only tells you whether the names are exactly identical. Here are the things to watch beyond the search.

Avoid “shadow names” and potential infringement risk

A “shadow name” is a new company name that, although not identical to anyone else's, is too similar to a well-known brand, so that the public easily assumes the two companies are connected.

For example, if a well-known company is called “Chanel Limited” and you name yours “Chanel International Limited”, the two names differ on paper but could easily mislead the public. This is a typical shadow name.

If a complaint is made and upheld, the Hong Kong Companies Registry will issue a direction requiring you to change the name within a time limit. In serious cases, the other company may also sue you for “passing off” or trademark infringement, exposing you to substantial damages.

Does successfully registering a company name mean trademark protection?

This is a misconception many founders have: Successfully registering a company name does not mean you own trademark rights.

The two are completely separate legal regimes. A company name is registered with the Companies Registry and gives you the right to trade under that name in Hong Kong, whereas a trademark is applied for with the Intellectual Property Department to protect the exclusive right to use a brand mark for specific classes of goods or services. Even if a company name has been registered, others can still file a trademark application for the same name first.

If you plan to use the company name as a brand, we recommend also applying for trademark registration, in order to get full protection.

FAQ

Can I register a Hong Kong company name in Simplified Chinese?

No. The statutory Chinese name of a Hong Kong company must use Traditional Chinese. If your brand name is originally in Simplified characters, it must be converted to Traditional characters on registration, although there is no such restriction on name cards or advertising designs.

How do the naming rules differ for unlimited companies (sole proprietorships/partnerships)?

Unlimited companies have more freedom in naming, usually using words such as firm, studio, consultancy, or no ending at all. But they must never use the Chinese-language equivalent of “Limited”, or “Limited” itself, as an ending, to avoid misleading the public.

Can a name include “International” or “Group”?

Usually yes. Hong Kong is relatively relaxed about words such as International, Group and Holdings. As long as the name does not overlap with another's and contains no regulated sensitive words, ordinary SMEs can use these terms too.

Must the Chinese and English names have the same meaning?

No. For example, a company's Chinese name and its English name “SetupHK” can be entirely unrelated in meaning, as long as each complies with the rules.

Does the English company name need to be registered?

It depends. You can register only a Chinese name, only an English name, or both. For international business dealings and the convenience of opening a bank account, we generally recommend having at least one English name.

Can a name include symbols?

Some punctuation is usually allowed (such as hyphens -, brackets () and apostrophes ‘), but symbols such as @, $ and # are generally not permitted.

Can a company name be changed?

Yes. File the following with the Companies Registry: Form NNC2 and pay a HK$295 fee; the change can be made by special resolution. After the name change, all business documents and bank accounts must be updated at the same time. If the change is in response to a mandatory name-change direction from the Companies Registry, there is a time limit, and missing it may lead to a fine.

If a name search shows it is available, can I definitely use it?

Not necessarily. ICRIS only filters out identical names, and final approval rests with the Registrar of Companies. Even if the search shows a name as available, it may still be rejected because it is misleading, contains unapproved sensitive words, or is too similar to an existing company.

Can I get a refund if the name is rejected?

The company registration fee is generally not refunded. You can amend the name according to the reason for rejection and reapply, or make representations to the Companies Registry. We recommend preparing 2 to 3 alternative names before submitting, to reduce the loss from a rejection.

Not sure about a name? Let SetupHK vet it for you in advance

Although ICRIS can filter out duplicate names, grey areas often call for extensive practical experience to judge, to avoid receiving a name-change direction from the Registry later, or even facing infringement risks.

If you still have doubts about naming, we recommend consulting a professional advisory firm such as SetupHK to vet it for you.