On 23 August 2021, the new Inspection Regime (“Inspection Regime”) under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) came into effect. It applies to both Hong Kong-incorporated companies and registered non-Hong Kong companies and has been implemented in three phases. Phase 3 of the new inspection regime will come into effect from 27 December 2023, allowing directors and other relevant individuals to apply to withhold their protected information from public inspection.

The Companies Registry has announced the adoption of an Unique Business Identifier for all entities under the administration of the Registrar of Companies on 27 December 2023 and revised 117 specified forms to take effect from the same date.

Baker McKenzie cordially invites you to attend briefings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi focusing on the M&A and private equity landscape and growth investments in Asia. The interactive sessions will take place on 5 and 6 September, and explore a range of issues, including 1) Market trends in M&A and private equity/venture capital deals; 2) Common issues for foreign investors in the Asian market.

Phase 2 of the new inspection regime of the register of the Companies Registry will come into effect from 24 October 2022, allowing Hong Kong companies to, among others, limit disclosure to the public certain personal information of their directors and secretaries. Under Phase 2 of the New Inspection Regime, the usual residential address and full identification number of directors and company secretaries will be replaced with the correspondence address and partial IDNs. Protected Information contained in documents filed for registration on or after 24 October 2022 will not be available for public inspection although Specified Persons may apply to access the Protected Information.

The Guide to Doing Business in China provides an introduction to selected aspects relating to investment and business operations in the People’s Republic of China under current Chinese laws and policy during the COVID pandemic, including a summary of important areas of concern to all investors in China: mergers and acquisitions, data privacy issues, antitrust and competition issues, taxation, employment, intellectual property protection, trade and import and export rules, financial services, as well as anti-bribery compliance and dispute resolution issues.

With the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference pivoting to a virtual format again in 2022, we will be hosting a lineup of virtual events and reports aligned with the industry’s biggest conference.

This series of four reports features key considerations and action points for business leaders and decision-makers in the region as they make strategic decisions, pursue growth and secure lasting success. Based on a custom survey of 800 respondents, in partnership with Acuris, this series spans four main areas of business: Supply Chains, New M&A Landscape, Digital Transformation and ESG.

Until now, any member of the public can obtain through a standard company search information regarding the residential addresses and personal identification numbers of directors and company secretaries of Hong Kong-registered companies on the register of the Companies Registry. In light of the growing concern about the availability and use of personal information, an inspection regime to protect such personal information was included in the new Companies Ordinance (Cap 622).

This report, the fourth in our Asia Pacific Business Renewal Series, explores how businesses are now fortifying their ESG efforts and pivoting from strategy to action.

This report, the third in our Asia Pacific Business Renewal Series, explores how digital transformation (DX) has become a driving force in business decision making, and how it will shape the business landscape over the decade to come. As companies respond to shifting demand patterns and propel their DX agenda, the conversation turns to areas such as managing emerging risks, creating value from new technologies and aligning DX efforts with business renewal.