Due Diligence Checklist for Hong Kong Business Partnerships
Before signing a contract, hiring a supplier, or entering a partnership with a Hong Kong company, a few minutes of checking the public record can rule out an obvious problem before it becomes an expensive one.
The checklist
1. Confirm the company is Active. A Dissolved, Deregistered, Amalgamated, or Historical status means the entity you’d be contracting with no longer legally exists in that form — see our guide to status codes for what each one means.
2. Confirm the BRN or CR Number matches what the counterparty gave you. A mismatched or missing registration number on their side is worth asking about directly.
3. Check the registered office address against the address they’ve given you for correspondence or contracts.
4. Check the name history. A company that has recently changed its English or Chinese name isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it’s worth knowing before you sign anything under the old name.
5. If the engagement involves regulated services (lending, trust/company services), verify the relevant licence — see our TCSP and Money Lender licence verification guides.
6. Before you sign, order the Company Search Package from the company’s profile page: official Registry searches covering its directors, registered charges and current registration status. For anything formal — a filing, a court matter, or a counterparty that specifically requires it — rely on that report rather than the free profile alone.