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    Users around the world can enjoy online access to the most updated company information kept by the Companies Registry with the launch of its Electronic Search Services.

    Speaking at the official launch today (April 8), the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, said the new services - under Phase One of the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS) - would both facilitate business and reduce the cost of doing business in Hong Kong.

    "Furthermore, by facilitating the public's access to corporate data, it enhances corporate transparency and thereby helps to strengthen overall corporate governance standards. This is important for strengthening Hong Kong's position as a major leading financial and business centre," Mr Ma said.

    Noting that ICRIS was a key element of the Companies Registry's Strategic Change Plan to enable fully electronic service delivery, the Registrar of Companies, Mr Gordon Jones, said the launch of the e-Search Services marked a new era in the provision of efficient, quality and cost-effective services to customers.

    "The new e-Search Services enable customers over the world to have online access anytime to current data of registered companies and over 80 million pages of image records of documents registered and kept by the Companies Registry," Mr Jones added.

    A wide range of free or user-pays search services are offered under the new system. Free searches include Company Name Search and Document Index Search. Image Record Search is charged on a "per document" basis. Online users can download imaged documents without having to go to the Companies Registry office. Other user-pays searches include Directors Index Search, Company Particulars Search, Register of Charges Search and Register of Disqualification Orders Search.

    Customers can conduct searches online in English or Chinese any time anywhere through the Cyber Search Centre at http://www.icris.cr.gov.hk or through a hyperlink on the Companies Registry's website: http://www.info.gov.hk/cr/). Customers can also conduct company searches at the Companies Registry's Public Search Centre, 13/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.

    A wide choice of payment methods have been developed to suit different customers' needs. Unregistered online users can pay for each search by credit card or direct debit through an electronic payment gateway. Registered online users can enjoy a discount in search fees after opening an account with a fee of $500 a year. In order to assist customers in using the e-Search Services, a round-the-clock Help Desk Support Service is provided by the contractor.

    "The new e-Search Services have been well received by customers," Mr Jones said. "Since its soft launch on February 28, the e-Search Services have attracted over 800 registered online users. The majority of the registered users are banking/financial institutions, solicitors firms, accountancy and secretarial firms, professional search companies and government departments. They welcome the new electronic service that provides them with timely information without the need to travel to our office," Mr Jones added.

    The Companies Registry will continue with the development of ICRIS Phase Two to enable electronic incorporation of companies and electronic submission of documents by companies by 2007.

Ends/Friday, April 8, 2005

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