Hong Kong Legal Articles & Insights

Closing a company in Hong Kong is a formal legal process that requires compliance with both Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) requirements. The appropriate method depends on the company's financial situation, business activities, assets, and liabilities.

Corporate lawyers are the legal professionals behind many of the most important business decisions a company will ever make. Whether a business is launching a startup, raising investment, negotiating contracts, acquiring another company, or expanding into new markets, corporate lawyers help ensure those decisions are legally sound and commercially practical.

If you are researching what a chartered company secretary is, you may be wondering whether your business needs one and how the role differs from a standard company secretary.

Hong Kong has seen a remarkable resurgence in IPO activity in Q1 2026, reasserting itself as the leading global fundraising hub once again. Total funds raised were approximately HK$110.40 billion (US$14.09 billion), a nearly sixfold increase compared to the same period in 2025 and Hong Kong’s strongest IPO quarter in five years.

The cross-border service of documents between Hong Kong and Mainland China has long been a procedural bottleneck in civil litigation. In April 2026, both jurisdictions introduced Hong Kong’s new mutual service arrangement with Mainland China, replacing the 1999 framework with a modernised system grounded in Article 95 of the Basic Law.

Two major legal updates took effect on 1 January 2026 that are relevant for businesses operating in or with Hong Kong: the updated Nice Classification for trademarks and revisions to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Rules. These changes impact trademark strategy, arbitration costs, and dispute resolution planning. Below we explain what has changed, who is affected, and what businesses should consider going forward.

Hong Kong remains one of the world’s most dynamic business hubs, attracting both corporations and entrepreneurs. However, both local and international companies fall into avoidable legal traps that can undermine their success. This 2026 guide outlines the five most common business mistakes companies make in Hong Kong from a legal and compliance perspective, along with practical steps to avoid each business mistake before it becomes costly.

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape of Hong Kong, the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) criteria and sustainability cannot be overstated. As global awareness of climate change and social responsibility grows, there is a rising demand for green finance, with business increasingly seeking green loans to support their sustainable initiatives.

Setting up an office in Hong Kong is fast and easy, but is it always the best move? Discover the basics, tax considerations, and common mistakes to avoid when expanding internationally.