Relocating to HK and opening HK company.

[Zen Imaging]

Hi, i have lived/stayed in HK for a total of just under 2 yrs between '99-'06 so i know HK pretty well and still have alot of friends there, i am a self employed filmmaker here in UK with a registered company for my current feature and am looking to relocate to HK and open a new small business that will eventually employ locals but what kind of visa do i need to get if i am opening a small business there, run by myself initially?

There seems to be conflicting statements by the 'HK company formation' companies and immigration.
Any ideas?

Cheers in advance for any help anyone may be able to offer me.
Best Wishes

Mark

Zen Imaging

[kryzlowski]

If I'm not mistaken (which I could well be) you need to have the company registered in the name of a company secretary, usually an accountant in situations like this. Then once registered, the company secretary can apply to sponsor you for a working visa.

[PDLM]

It's rather hard to persuade ImmD though - they don't want people just setting up companies that won't do very much as a means of bypassing the visa process, so I would say the chances of this being approved are slim unless the company is real and employs locals.

[AIP]

Have you tried to talking Invest HK? They have an office in London, speak to Adele. They are funded by HK government and do not charge for their help. You should be able to find details easily online.

[Zen Imaging]

Dear PDLM and everyone else,
thank you for your advice, my intention is in no way to deceive the IMMD, i am working very hard in developing the structure and services as it is a tourism and hospitality based company and could not do it without the recruitment, skills and local knowledge of HK citizens. Chances are i'll be the only gwei lo there...lol

I am merely curious about the visa issue, which do i need to apply for as the Investment Visa requires an unrealistic amount of finance for a start up business of this size, in the initial stages, ie yrs 1-2

Thank you for your replies and to AIP, i will go to the Invest HK London office, was not aware of them, thanks.

Have a good weekend all

Mark

Zen Imaging

[PDLM]

I am merely curious about the visa issue, which do i need to apply for as the Investment Visa requires an unrealistic amount of finance for a start up business of this size, in the initial stages, ie yrs 1-2

As many many people do, you seem to have confused Investment Visas (for which a credible business plan is required, but for which there is no minimum threshold of investment) and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (which doesn't require you to undertake any business in HK - simply to invest HK$6.5M in some form of assets here).

What you are proposing seems like exactly the sort of thing an Investment Visa is designed for. InvestHK is indeed the best place to go to start with.