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The total number of local companies and overseas companies registered under the Companies Ordinance increased during the first six months of 2007 compared with the corresponding period of 2006, according to statistics released today (August 3) by the Companies Registry.
The figures showed that the number of new local companies incorporated during the first six months of 2007 was 47,417, an increase of 19.12% from the 39,807 in the corresponding period of 2006.
The number of new overseas companies that had established a place of business in Hong Kong and registered under Part XI of the Companies Ordinance in the first six months of 2007 was 316, an increase of 12.46% from 281 in the corresponding period of 2006.
The total number of live companies registered under the Companies Ordinance at the end of June, 2007, was 622,318, up 30,374 from the end of 2006. The total number of overseas companies registered under Part XI of the Companies Ordinance stood at 7,854 at the end of June, 2007, 145 more than the total number at the end of 2006.
The number of charges on the assets of companies received in the first six months of 2007 increased by 25.61%, to 17,386 from 13,841 in the same period last year. The number of satisfactions and releases received increased by 14.75% to 11,715 in the first half of 2007.
A total of 132 prospectuses, including 55 mutual funds, were registered in the first six months of 2007, compared with 124 prospectuses, including 46 mutual funds, during the corresponding period in 2006.
The total number of documents received for filing during the first six months of 2007 increased by 8.72%, to 929,225 from 854,672.
The number of company searches on document image records (on a per document basis) made through the Companies Registry's Electronic Search Services in the first half of 2007 increased by 5.93%, to 1,415,805 when compared with 1,336,582 searches during the corresponding period in 2006.
The number of searches on the computerised Index of Directors during the first six months of 2007 increased by 18.26%, to 85,297 from 72,124 during the same period in 2006. The number of Company Particulars Reports issued increased by 4.88%, to 62,397 from 59,496.
The total number of summonses issued by the Registrar of Companies against companies for breaches of the Companies Ordinance, mainly for failure to file annual returns, during the first six months of 2007 was 2,992, compared with 2,834 during the corresponding period in 2006.
During the first half of 2007, 1,111 convictions were obtained compared with 1,115 during the corresponding period in 2006 and 837 cases remain to be heard by the court, compared with 753 during the corresponding period in 2006. The total amount of fines imposed for convictions in the first half of 2007 was $6,173,849, compared with $7,164,940 during the corresponding period in 2006.
Ends/Friday, August 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:00
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