When regulatory forms change at scale, accuracy and clarity matter more than speed.
Hong Kong’s compliance landscape is entering another important transition.
Ahead of 27 December 2023, the Companies Registry (CR) announced extensive revisions to its specified and administrative forms as part of Phase 2 of the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) implementation. With 117 specified forms updated, company secretaries and compliance teams are required to adjust their filing practices within a relatively short timeframe.
For practitioners, this is not simply a formatting update. The changes affect how entities are identified, how information is structured, and how filings must be prepared going forward. Staying aligned early is essential to avoid disruption.
What Has Changed
To improve data consistency and coordination across government departments, the Companies Registry has introduced several key updates to its forms.
The main changes include:
Business Registration Number (BRN) replacing the Company Number as the primary identifier
Reformatted address fields for more structured data capture
Revised layouts for shareholder information
New fields for Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence numbers
These updates are designed to support the UBI framework and enable smoother data exchange between departments such as the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.
Scope of the Revisions
The updates apply broadly across Hong Kong’s filing framework.
117 specified forms have been revised
Affected legislation includes:
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32)
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
Securities and Futures (Open-ended Fund Companies) Rules (Cap. 571AQ)
From 25 January 2024, the revised Form NNC1 (Incorporation Form for Companies Limited by Shares) must be used for new incorporations. For most other affected forms, a six‑month transitional period applies before older versions are fully phased out.
Why These Changes Can Feel Disruptive
Although the long-term benefits are clear, the transition itself can be challenging — especially for company secretaries handling multiple entities or recurring filings.
Common concerns include:
switching to revised forms across a large volume of filings
ensuring outdated versions are not used accidentally
re-communicating new information requirements to directors and shareholders
aligning internal records with new data structures
avoiding delays or rejections during the transition period
When updates occur at this scale, manual processes — such as downloading files, maintaining local templates, or updating desktop software — increase the risk of inconsistency and error.
How Smoooth Helps Company Secretaries Adopt the Changes Faster
As a cloud-based secretarial workspace, Smoooth is designed to respond quickly when regulatory requirements change.
Forms and data structures are updated automatically, without manual downloads or software updates
Entity information remains structured and aligned with the latest requirements
Teams and stakeholders work from the same up-to-date records, reducing back-and-forth clarification
The risk of using outdated forms during transition periods is significantly reduced
This allows company secretaries to focus on accuracy, communication, and compliance — rather than managing form versions or manual updates.
Limited-Time Support Offer
To support company secretaries during this transition, Smoooth is offering a limited-time incentive for teams adopting the platform around the UBI and form updates. Company secretaries who register and successfully open an account before 29 February 2024 may enjoy subscription rebates or discounted plans. For details, please contact our team.
Conclusion
The revisions to Companies Registry forms mark an important step toward clearer identification, improved data quality, and stronger regulatory coordination in Hong Kong.
While transitions of this scale can feel disruptive, they also present an opportunity to rethink how entity information is managed. With the right understanding — and the right tools — company secretaries can adapt confidently and continue operating with accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
How Smoooth Supports Regulatory Change
Regulatory updates are easier to manage when entity data, documents, and workflows are centralized. Smoooth helps company secretaries stay aligned with current requirements while reducing manual coordination and transition risk. To learn more, explore Smoooth or create a free account to see how it fits into your compliance workflow.
References
Hong Kong’s compliance landscape is entering another important transition.
Ahead of 27 December 2023, the Companies Registry (CR) announced extensive revisions to its specified and administrative forms as part of Phase 2 of the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) implementation. With 117 specified forms updated, company secretaries and compliance teams are required to adjust their filing practices within a relatively short timeframe.
For practitioners, this is not simply a formatting update. The changes affect how entities are identified, how information is structured, and how filings must be prepared going forward. Staying aligned early is essential to avoid disruption.
What Has Changed
To improve data consistency and coordination across government departments, the Companies Registry has introduced several key updates to its forms.
The main changes include:
Business Registration Number (BRN) replacing the Company Number as the primary identifier
Reformatted address fields for more structured data capture
Revised layouts for shareholder information
New fields for Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence numbers
These updates are designed to support the UBI framework and enable smoother data exchange between departments such as the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.
Scope of the Revisions
The updates apply broadly across Hong Kong’s filing framework.
117 specified forms have been revised
Affected legislation includes:
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32)
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
Securities and Futures (Open-ended Fund Companies) Rules (Cap. 571AQ)
From 25 January 2024, the revised Form NNC1 (Incorporation Form for Companies Limited by Shares) must be used for new incorporations. For most other affected forms, a six‑month transitional period applies before older versions are fully phased out.
Why These Changes Can Feel Disruptive
Although the long-term benefits are clear, the transition itself can be challenging — especially for company secretaries handling multiple entities or recurring filings.
Common concerns include:
switching to revised forms across a large volume of filings
ensuring outdated versions are not used accidentally
re-communicating new information requirements to directors and shareholders
aligning internal records with new data structures
avoiding delays or rejections during the transition period
When updates occur at this scale, manual processes — such as downloading files, maintaining local templates, or updating desktop software — increase the risk of inconsistency and error.
How Smoooth Helps Company Secretaries Adopt the Changes Faster
As a cloud-based secretarial workspace, Smoooth is designed to respond quickly when regulatory requirements change.
Forms and data structures are updated automatically, without manual downloads or software updates
Entity information remains structured and aligned with the latest requirements
Teams and stakeholders work from the same up-to-date records, reducing back-and-forth clarification
The risk of using outdated forms during transition periods is significantly reduced
This allows company secretaries to focus on accuracy, communication, and compliance — rather than managing form versions or manual updates.
Limited-Time Support Offer
To support company secretaries during this transition, Smoooth is offering a limited-time incentive for teams adopting the platform around the UBI and form updates. Company secretaries who register and successfully open an account before 29 February 2024 may enjoy subscription rebates or discounted plans. For details, please contact our team.
Conclusion
The revisions to Companies Registry forms mark an important step toward clearer identification, improved data quality, and stronger regulatory coordination in Hong Kong.
While transitions of this scale can feel disruptive, they also present an opportunity to rethink how entity information is managed. With the right understanding — and the right tools — company secretaries can adapt confidently and continue operating with accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
How Smoooth Supports Regulatory Change
Regulatory updates are easier to manage when entity data, documents, and workflows are centralized. Smoooth helps company secretaries stay aligned with current requirements while reducing manual coordination and transition risk. To learn more, explore Smoooth or create a free account to see how it fits into your compliance workflow.
References
Hong Kong’s compliance landscape is entering another important transition.
Ahead of 27 December 2023, the Companies Registry (CR) announced extensive revisions to its specified and administrative forms as part of Phase 2 of the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) implementation. With 117 specified forms updated, company secretaries and compliance teams are required to adjust their filing practices within a relatively short timeframe.
For practitioners, this is not simply a formatting update. The changes affect how entities are identified, how information is structured, and how filings must be prepared going forward. Staying aligned early is essential to avoid disruption.
What Has Changed
To improve data consistency and coordination across government departments, the Companies Registry has introduced several key updates to its forms.
The main changes include:
Business Registration Number (BRN) replacing the Company Number as the primary identifier
Reformatted address fields for more structured data capture
Revised layouts for shareholder information
New fields for Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence numbers
These updates are designed to support the UBI framework and enable smoother data exchange between departments such as the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.
Scope of the Revisions
The updates apply broadly across Hong Kong’s filing framework.
117 specified forms have been revised
Affected legislation includes:
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32)
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
Securities and Futures (Open-ended Fund Companies) Rules (Cap. 571AQ)
From 25 January 2024, the revised Form NNC1 (Incorporation Form for Companies Limited by Shares) must be used for new incorporations. For most other affected forms, a six‑month transitional period applies before older versions are fully phased out.
Why These Changes Can Feel Disruptive
Although the long-term benefits are clear, the transition itself can be challenging — especially for company secretaries handling multiple entities or recurring filings.
Common concerns include:
switching to revised forms across a large volume of filings
ensuring outdated versions are not used accidentally
re-communicating new information requirements to directors and shareholders
aligning internal records with new data structures
avoiding delays or rejections during the transition period
When updates occur at this scale, manual processes — such as downloading files, maintaining local templates, or updating desktop software — increase the risk of inconsistency and error.
How Smoooth Helps Company Secretaries Adopt the Changes Faster
As a cloud-based secretarial workspace, Smoooth is designed to respond quickly when regulatory requirements change.
Forms and data structures are updated automatically, without manual downloads or software updates
Entity information remains structured and aligned with the latest requirements
Teams and stakeholders work from the same up-to-date records, reducing back-and-forth clarification
The risk of using outdated forms during transition periods is significantly reduced
This allows company secretaries to focus on accuracy, communication, and compliance — rather than managing form versions or manual updates.
Limited-Time Support Offer
To support company secretaries during this transition, Smoooth is offering a limited-time incentive for teams adopting the platform around the UBI and form updates. Company secretaries who register and successfully open an account before 29 February 2024 may enjoy subscription rebates or discounted plans. For details, please contact our team.
Conclusion
The revisions to Companies Registry forms mark an important step toward clearer identification, improved data quality, and stronger regulatory coordination in Hong Kong.
While transitions of this scale can feel disruptive, they also present an opportunity to rethink how entity information is managed. With the right understanding — and the right tools — company secretaries can adapt confidently and continue operating with accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
How Smoooth Supports Regulatory Change
Regulatory updates are easier to manage when entity data, documents, and workflows are centralized. Smoooth helps company secretaries stay aligned with current requirements while reducing manual coordination and transition risk. To learn more, explore Smoooth or create a free account to see how it fits into your compliance workflow.
References
Hong Kong’s compliance landscape is entering another important transition.
Ahead of 27 December 2023, the Companies Registry (CR) announced extensive revisions to its specified and administrative forms as part of Phase 2 of the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) implementation. With 117 specified forms updated, company secretaries and compliance teams are required to adjust their filing practices within a relatively short timeframe.
For practitioners, this is not simply a formatting update. The changes affect how entities are identified, how information is structured, and how filings must be prepared going forward. Staying aligned early is essential to avoid disruption.
What Has Changed
To improve data consistency and coordination across government departments, the Companies Registry has introduced several key updates to its forms.
The main changes include:
Business Registration Number (BRN) replacing the Company Number as the primary identifier
Reformatted address fields for more structured data capture
Revised layouts for shareholder information
New fields for Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence numbers
These updates are designed to support the UBI framework and enable smoother data exchange between departments such as the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.
Scope of the Revisions
The updates apply broadly across Hong Kong’s filing framework.
117 specified forms have been revised
Affected legislation includes:
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32)
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
Securities and Futures (Open-ended Fund Companies) Rules (Cap. 571AQ)
From 25 January 2024, the revised Form NNC1 (Incorporation Form for Companies Limited by Shares) must be used for new incorporations. For most other affected forms, a six‑month transitional period applies before older versions are fully phased out.
Why These Changes Can Feel Disruptive
Although the long-term benefits are clear, the transition itself can be challenging — especially for company secretaries handling multiple entities or recurring filings.
Common concerns include:
switching to revised forms across a large volume of filings
ensuring outdated versions are not used accidentally
re-communicating new information requirements to directors and shareholders
aligning internal records with new data structures
avoiding delays or rejections during the transition period
When updates occur at this scale, manual processes — such as downloading files, maintaining local templates, or updating desktop software — increase the risk of inconsistency and error.
How Smoooth Helps Company Secretaries Adopt the Changes Faster
As a cloud-based secretarial workspace, Smoooth is designed to respond quickly when regulatory requirements change.
Forms and data structures are updated automatically, without manual downloads or software updates
Entity information remains structured and aligned with the latest requirements
Teams and stakeholders work from the same up-to-date records, reducing back-and-forth clarification
The risk of using outdated forms during transition periods is significantly reduced
This allows company secretaries to focus on accuracy, communication, and compliance — rather than managing form versions or manual updates.
Limited-Time Support Offer
To support company secretaries during this transition, Smoooth is offering a limited-time incentive for teams adopting the platform around the UBI and form updates. Company secretaries who register and successfully open an account before 29 February 2024 may enjoy subscription rebates or discounted plans. For details, please contact our team.
Conclusion
The revisions to Companies Registry forms mark an important step toward clearer identification, improved data quality, and stronger regulatory coordination in Hong Kong.
While transitions of this scale can feel disruptive, they also present an opportunity to rethink how entity information is managed. With the right understanding — and the right tools — company secretaries can adapt confidently and continue operating with accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
How Smoooth Supports Regulatory Change
Regulatory updates are easier to manage when entity data, documents, and workflows are centralized. Smoooth helps company secretaries stay aligned with current requirements while reducing manual coordination and transition risk. To learn more, explore Smoooth or create a free account to see how it fits into your compliance workflow.
