4
Financial and Monetary Affairs
with the Government on other reform proposals, including preparing proposals on the rationalisation of fund choices and the introduction of a cap on MPF fees in case of market failure, with a view to conducting public consultation in 2013. The MPFA is mapping out the implementation of full portability in parallel.
Companies Registry
The Companies Registry administers and enforces most parts of the Companies Ordinance. The registry records local and non-Hong Kong companies and documents required to be filed under the Companies Ordinance and related ordinances, de-registers defunct solvent private companies and provides the public with services and facilities for inspecting and obtaining company information kept by the registry. It administers and enforces several other ordinances, including the Trustee Ordinance (insofar as it relates to trust companies), the Registered Trustees Incorporation Ordinance and the Limited Partnerships Ordinance. The registry is also responsible for processing applications related to money lenders licences and maintaining a register of money lenders for inspection by the public.
The registry has been operating as a trading fund department since 1993, allowing it to deploy its resources more flexibly to meet customers' demands and expectations.
The electronic search services provided by the Integrated Companies Registry Information System have been well received by customers and about 99 per cent of company searches are now conducted online. With the introduction of the new electronic services at the registry's e-Registry portal (www.eregistry.gov.hk) in March 2011, electronic Certificates of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificates can normally be issued together in less than one hour after receipt of the applications.
In 2012, the electronic services at the e-Registry portal were expanded in phases to cover submission of annual returns for private companies and 15 commonly filed specified forms for reporting changes of company information. A new Company Search Mobile Service (www. mobile-cr.gov.hk) was also launched in June 2012 to enable users to conduct company searches through mobile devices.
Companies Registry statistics (year-end)
Local companies incorporated
Local companies on the register
Non-Hong Kong companies registered
Non-Hong Kong companies on the register
2010
2011
2012
139,530
148,329
150,165
863,762
956,392
1,044,644
737
798
686
8,165
8,554
8,848
80