Chapter: 32 COMPANIES ORDINANCE
Section Num: 337B Version Date 30/06/1997
Regulation of use of corporate name by oversea company in Hong Kong
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where the Registrar is satisfied that in the case of an oversea company registered under this Part and carrying on business in Hong Kong under its corporate name, its corporate name-
(a) is the same as or is too like-
(i) a name appearing, or which should have appeared, in the Registrar's index of company names on the relevant date; or
(ii) the name of a body corporate incorporated or established under an Ordinance before the relevant date; or
(b) gives so misleading an indication of the nature of its activities in Hong Kong as to be likely to cause harm to the public,
he may serve a notice to that effect on the oversea company. (Replaced 60 of 1990 s. 8) [cf. 1985 c. 6 s. 694 U.K.]
(2) A notice shall not be served on an oversea company under subsection (1)(a) later than 6 months beginning on the relevant date.
(Replaced 60 of 1990 s. 8) [cf. 1985 c. 6 s. 694 U.K.]
(2A) In subsections (1) and (2), "relevant date" means the date on which the oversea company complies with section 333 or, where there has been a change in its corporate name, section 335. (Added 60 of 1990 s. 8) [cf. 1985 c. 6 s. 694 U.K.]
(3) An oversea company on which a notice is served under subsection (1) may deliver to the Registrar for registration under section 333 a statement in the specified form specifying a name approved by the Financial Secretary other than its corporate name under which it proposes to carry on business in Hong Kong and may, after that name has been so registered, at any time deliver to the Registrar for registration under that section a statement in the specified form specifying a name approved by the Financial Secretary other than its corporate name in substitution for the name previously registered under that section. (Amended 3 of 1997 s. 52)
(4) The name by which an oversea company is, by virtue of subsection (3), for the time being registered under section 333 shall for all purposes of the law applying in Hong Kong (including the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap 310)) be deemed to be the corporate name of the company; but this subsection shall not affect references to the corporate name of the company in this section or any rights or obligations of the company, or render defective any legal proceedings by or against the company, and any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against it by its corporate name or its name previously registered under that section may be continued or commenced against it by its name for the time being so registered.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), an oversea company on which a notice is served under subsection (1) shall not at any time after the expiration of 2 months from the service of that notice carry on business in Hong Kong under its corporate name.
(6) An oversea company on which a notice is served under subsection (1)(b) may, within a period of 3 weeks from the service of that notice,
apply to the court to set aside the notice, and the court may set it aside or confirm it.
(7) If subsection (5) is contravened, the oversea company and every officer or agent of the company who knowingly and wilfully authorizes or permits the contravention shall be liable to-
(a) a fine and, in the case of an individual, imprisonment; and
(b) for continued default, a daily default fine,
but nothing in subsection (5) or this subsection shall invalidate any transaction entered into by the company. (Amended 7 of 1990 s. 2; 60 of 1990 s. 8)
(Added 6 of 1984 s. 234)
[cf. 1976 c. 69 s. 31 U.K.]
Note:
See 60 of 1990 s. 12.