華師話你知 – 公司註冊處 修訂指明表格以實施新查冊安排第二階段

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

修訂指明表格以實施新查冊安排第二階段

 

Recently the Companies Registry has issued 2 new circulars and also issued a separate email to registered account holders directly regarding the new measures for the new inspection regime:

 

1. Revision of Specified Forms for Implementation of Phase 2 of New Inspection Regime (External Circular No. 1 / 2022)

 

2. Opening of Special Accounts for obtaining Protected Information on the Companies Register Maintained by the Companies Registry

 

3. Extension of Electronic Submission Services to Documents Delivered under Various Ordinances and Miscellaneous Services (External Circular No. 2 / 2022)

 

To summarize:

 

The 2nd Phase of the New Inspection Regime of the Companies Register under the Companies Ordinance would be implemented from 24 October 2022. Protected Information on the Index of Directors on the Register will be replaced with correspondence addresses and partial IDNs for public inspection. Protected Information contained in documents filed for registration after 24 October 2022 will not be provided for public inspection. However, “Specified persons” could apply to the Registry for access to Protected Information of directors and other persons;

 

To facilitate the implementation of Phase 2, the Registrar of Companies has revised 26 specified forms which pertain to the reporting of Protected Information for use starting from 24 October 2022.   The 26 revised specified forms were published in the Gazette today.  

Companies Ordinance Cap.622

https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20222625/egn202226253129.pdf

https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20222625/egn202226253130.pdf

 

Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance Cap.32

https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20222625/egn202226253168.pdf

 

 

"specified persons" who can apply to the Registry for disclosure of Protected Information includes, among others,:

–        a liquidator
–        a trustee in bankruptcy
–        a public officer or public body
–        a scheduled person
–        a solicitor or foreign lawyer
–        a certified public accountant (practising)
–        a financial institution or DNFBP

From 24 October 2022, the above 7 types of specified persons (“the designated types of specified persons”) will still be able to obtain Protected Information for the performance of their functions specified in section 12 of the Regulation through the following means:

(a) One-time application for disclosure of Protected Information by using paper form;

(b) Online application for disclosure of Protected Information through a Special Account at the Registry's Cyber Search Centre at www.icris.cr.gov.hk or Company Search Mobile Service at www.mobile-cr.gov.hk.

Only a natural person who is a specified person can apply for disclosure of Protected Information through a Special Account (“SA”). If the specified person is not a natural person, application for disclosure of Protected Information can only be made by its authorised representative through the Authorised Representative’s Special Account (“ARA”).

Opening of Special Account in Advance

As most of our members belong to one of the designated types of specified persons and require routine access to Protected Information on the Register for the purpose of the performance of functions specified in section 12 of the Regulation, the Registry is prepared to accept in advance your application for opening of SA in your name and, in case you are not a natural person, together with your application for opening of ARAs for your authorised representative(s) to make future applications for Protected Information electronically.  In so doing, the special accounts can be used immediately upon the commencement of Phase 2 for uninterrupted access to Protected Information for the performance of the functions of the specified persons. We can apply under our own name, firm name or corporate practice.

Procedures for application for Special Accounts

If you are already their registered account holders, they should have sent you the application forms previously. Your application should be submitted to the Registry by 5 July 2022.  

 

If you have not registered with the Companies Registry, they will be sending out to accountants in their second batch. Please watch out for them in your email.


Specified person who is a natural person and wishes to apply for the opening of SA in advance is required to submit an application form “Application for Opening of Special Account relating to Protected Information by Designated Types of Specified Persons (Advance Application)” (Form PS4A) below together with the appropriate supporting documents.

Specified person not being a natural person which wishes to apply for the opening of SA in advance is required to submit a Form PS4A together with the application form(s) “Application for Opening of Special Account for Authorised Representative by a Special Account User other than a Natural Person (Advance Application)” (Form PS5A) below and the appropriate supporting documents.  Please note that as one SA can manage 15 ARAs at most, each Form PS4A is allowed to be submitted with 15 Forms PS5A at most.  

Specified person not being a natural person can apply for separate SAs for its branches / sub-offices.  To differentiate different SAs being applied for, please provide the name of the branch / sub-office in section C of Part 1 of the different Forms PS4A and Part 1 of Form(s) PS5A.

You can deliver the application to the Registry in person at the Public Search Centre on the 13th floor, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway during office hours (8:45 – 17:30) or send the application by post to the same address.  No fee is required for the opening of SA and ARA.

 

Starting from 22 July 2022, the revised forms newly specified can be downloaded from the thematic section on “New Inspection Regime” on the Registry’s website at www.cr.gov.hk/en/legislation/nir/forms.htm.

 

Enquiries relating to : 

1. Incorporation and registration of companies

Ms Vonnie TSANG, Assistant Registry Manager (New Companies)

Tel: (852) 2867 4289; Email: cr.nir-forms@cr.gov.hk

 

2. Annual return, director, company secretary and authorized representative

Ms Kamela HAMET, Assistant Registry Manager (Registration)

Tel: (852) 2867 6476; Email: cr.nir-forms@cr.gov.hk

 

3. Liquidator, receiver and manager

Mr CHAN Ching-hang, Assistant Registry Manager (Charges & Liquidation)

Tel: (852) 2867 2611 ; Email : cr.nir-forms@cr.gov.hk

 

4. Documents relating to trust companies

Miss Karen CHAN Assistant Registry Manager (New Companies) 1

Tel.: (852) 2867 4790 Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

5. Documents relating to registered (Document Management) trustees corporations, limited partnerships and limited partnership funds

Ms Tina CHOI Assistant Registry Manager

Tel.: (852) 2867 2595; Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

6. Documents relating to relating to open-ended fund

Mr Philip CHUI Assistant Registry Manager (Registration)1

Tel.: (852) 2867 4562; Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

7. Documents relating to administrative restoration of registration of companies

Mr Raymond FONG Assistant Registry Manager (Deregistration)

Tel.: (852) 2867 2631; Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

8. Documents relating to money lenders (Money Lenders)

Miss Maggie CHOW Assistant Registry Manager

Tel.: (852) 2867 2567 ; Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

9. Documents relating to issues relating to electronic (Development) submission services

Ms Maggie LAI For enquiries on other Assistant Registry Manager

Tel.: (852) 2867 2618; Email: crenq@cr.gov.hk

 

Enquiries concerning the arrangements for opening of Special Accounts should be directed to Ms Rosa Ma at 2867 1466 or Mr Terence Mok at 2867 2579.

 

Circular for Revision of Specified Forms for Implementation of Phase 2 of New Inspection Regime (External Circular No. 1/2022):

https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/publications/docs/ec1-2022-e.pdf

 

Circular for Extension of Electronic Submission Services to Documents Delivered under Various Ordinances and Miscellaneous Services (External Circular No. 2/2022)

https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/publications/docs/ec2-2022-e.pdf

     

免責聲明
本郵件內容的準確性、可靠性、安全性及時間性,香港華人會計師公會概不作任何明示或默示的保證,香港華人會計師公會亦不作出任何明示或暗示保證該等內容適合使用。對任何由本郵件所載資料所產生或與之相關的損失或損害,香港華人會計師公會概不承擔任何責任。你有責任自行評估本郵件包含的所有資料,並須加以核實,例如聯絡政府相關部門,以及在根據該等資料行事之前徵詢獨立意見。