HK: New Requirement – Register of Significant Controllers

The Companies Ordinance (Cap.622) has been amended to require a company incorporated in Hong Kong to identify persons who have significant control over the company and to maintain a register of significant controllers to be accessible by law enforcement officers upon demand.  This follows similar steps taken in the UK and other jurisdictions, and the Hong Kong RSCs will not be accessible to the general public.

HK: New Client Due Diligence and Licensing Regime for Providers

The Hong Kong government has now introduced amended legislation that regulates the provision of, until now, unregulated company services by accounting professionals, estate agents, legal professionals and trust and company service providers. The move is consistent with the government’s commitment to adopt common reporting standards, institute a register for persons with significant control and generally to the extension of enhanced client due diligence and record-keeping regarding private Hong Kong companies.