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An eight-digit identifier makes company search easy

The Companies Registry (CR) has all along been committed to offering quality services to companies and members of the public and strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an ideal place for business through the adoption of innovation and technology and wider use of electronic services.

With the concerted efforts of the CR and the Inland Revenue Department, the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) will commence full implementation on 27 December 2023. The UBI enables the Government and businesses to identify legal entities with a unique number, thus facilitating communication among different parties and enhancement of public service delivery.

Specifically, the eight-digit business registration number will replace the company registration number as the key number for searching and identifying companies and entities. The UBI initiative is to be implemented in two phases. The first phase involving limited partnership funds was implemented with effect from 1 November 2021. The second phase will start to run simultaneously with the launch of the CR’s revamped information system on 27 December 2023 to cover other types of entities.

The CR will launch a revamped information system (ICRIS), which supports its business operations and electronic services through a single integrated online platform, on 27 December 2023. In fact, the CR has been providing electronic company search services as early as 2005, and over 70% of applications for company registration are now submitted electronically. In response to evolving business needs, the CR has been pressing ahead with the development of a new information system with enhanced scalability, security and robustness. I very much look forward to seeing the new system bringing greater convenience to businesses and members of the public.

Since its inception three decades ago, the CR has made tremendous contributions to consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Let the figures speak for themselves. The number of local companies on the Companies Register has risen substantially from some 430 000 in 1993 to over 1.4 million in 2023, a more than three-fold increase. The number of newly formed companies in a year has more than doubled from about 60 000 then to about 130 000 in 2023. Moreover, since the introduction of the limited partnership fund regime, the CR has taken on the grave responsibility of assisting in its operation, with over 700 funds registered so far. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to colleagues of the CR for their sustained and dedicated efforts, and encourage them to continue providing efficient and quality public service to facilitate the conduct of business.

In addition to the full implementation of the UBI and the launch of the CR’s revamped information system, an even more important event awaits us this month, i.e. the District Council (DC) election to be held on 10 December (Sunday). This is the first large-scale territory-wide election following improvements to the district governance system and reforms of the DCs of the HKSAR. It is therefore of utmost importance to the steadfast and successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems”, good governance in Hong Kong, as well as the well-being of members of the public. May I appeal to you to pick your preferred candidate and cast your vote on 10 December. Let’s all do our part to build a better community together.


2 December 2023