When registering a Hong Kong company, many people have an agency “incidentally” arrange for a company secretary on their behalf; they pay the annual fee and then have no idea what that person or agency actually does.

That is not a correct understanding.

A company secretary in Hong Kong is not an optional service; it is a statutory requirement under Section 455 of the Companies Ordinance. Without a company secretary, the company cannot file its annual report, hold shareholder meetings, or complete any official corporate documents.

💡 If you're unsure whether your company secretary is in compliance, or if you'd like to evaluate the quality of your current service, feel free to add us on WeChat qcygscszk or call 18676749275

The 8 Statutory Duties of a Company Secretary

In-House vs. Outsourcing: A Comparison of Actual Costs

Some people might ask: Can I serve as my own company secretary?

Sure, but there's one strict condition:The company secretary must be a Hong Kong resident (an individual) or a legal entity registered in Hong Kong. If you are not a Hong Kong resident, you do not meet the eligibility requirements to serve as a company secretary.

After ruling out cases where the qualifications are not met, here is a comparison between doing it in-house and outsourcing:

Conclusion: For the vast majority of Hong Kong company owners operating in mainland China, outsourcing to a professional firm is the more sensible choice. For an annual fee of 1,000–3,000 yuan, they gain effective management of compliance risks.

📌 If you are considering switching secretarial service providers or are unsure whether your current secretarial service is performing its duties properly, please contact us for advice.
Cell phone: 18676749275 ｜ WeChat: qcygscszk

What are the consequences of not having a company secretary (or having a secretary who is not fulfilling their duties)?

How to Choose a Company Secretarial Service Provider

The following points are key considerations when making a selection:

✅ Licensed — Registered as a Practicing Company Secretary with the Hong Kong Companies Registry (partial requirements)
✅ Has a physical office — It is not a purely virtual operation; it has a physical office in Hong Kong.
✅ Prompt Response — Able to respond to urgent matters (such as bank KYC requirements or correspondence from government agencies) within 24–48 hours
✅ Transparent Service — Clearly lists the services included and annual renewal fees; no hidden charges
✅ Proactive Reminders — Proactive reminders for deadlines such as annual reports, tax filings, and KYC—no need for you to follow up yourself

📞 If you’re looking for services from a professional, licensed secretarial firm, please feel free to contact Qicaiying. We hold a TCSP license and operate our own Hong Kong accounting firm, offering a one-stop solution for secretarial services, bookkeeping, auditing, and tax filing.
WeChat: qcygscszk Simply send [Secretarial Services].

The Four Core Advantages of Qicaiying’s Hong Kong Company Services

🔹 1. A team of experts to guide you throughout the process

Our team of nearly 400 professionals, comprising senior Hong Kong licensed secretaries, certified public accountants, tax accountants and cross-border business consultants, handles tens of thousands of Hong Kong company registration and maintenance cases annually. We provide ”one-to-one” customized solutions from company structure design (e.g. Mainland-Hong Kong dual entity, VIE structure), name search, document preparation to government filing. We have 3 TCSP licensed secretaries and 1 self-owned Hong Kong CPA firm to ensure that every step of the process is legally compliant and to avoid risks from the source.

🔹 2. digitally empowered, smart and efficient

We have invested tens of millions of dollars to develop our own digital system ”E-Tron”, which realizes the standardization of the whole process and visualization of the progress of Hong Kong company registration, bank account opening, annual review, audit and tax filing, and so on. Customers can track the key nodes such as certificate issuance, bank interview, tax return submission, etc. in real time. The integration of AI intelligent analysis can quickly assess whether your business is suitable for applying for offshore exemption, whether you need to do transfer pricing, and assist in generating the optimal compliance program, so that complex matters are clear and transparent.

🔹 3. Eco-links, extra value

We connect over 500,000+ entrepreneurs with domestic and international associations (e.g. Shenzhen Cross-border E-commerce Association, Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce), and regularly organize cross-border salons and seminars on finance and tax law. Registering a Hong Kong company through us is not just about getting a certificate - it is also about linking ecological resources such as green channel for bank account opening, cross-border payment, overseas warehouses, auditing and taxation, etc., which solves the problem of ”not knowing who to look for next after registering”, and creates secondary business opportunities.

🔹 4. Full-cycle accompaniment for worry-free sailing

Our services go beyond ”successful registration” to provide full life-cycle support for Hong Kong companies:

Previously: Free assessment of whether you need a Hong Kong company, recommending the optimal type of entity (Mainland company/Hong Kong company/Offshore company);

Midterm: Assist in completing Hong Kong company registration, bank account opening (HSBC / Overseas Chinese / Dah Sing / CBI and many other green channels), VAT / EIN application;

Late: Annual audits, audit tax returns, offshore exemption applications, CRS compliance, account freezes in case of emergencies, to become a long-term and robust partner for your overseas business. We automatically remind and handle all annual compliance matters on behalf of you on a nodal basis, and you just focus on your business.