Setting up a Foreign Rep Office

Posted by canadianadam (465 days ago)

Hi,

The company I work for wants to setup a foreign rep office in HKG and send me to act as the "director". The company is a registered North American company, operating for more than 7 years. The purpose of this office would be to act as a regional sales support office for the Asia Pacific region. At this time we do not plan on hiring any local employees but will be expanding the office should the market mature in the next 1-2 years.

My questions are:
1) will it be difficult for me to get a working visa?
2) are there any special peices of information the company should be aware of? We are planning on using a "virtual office" at this time instead of leasing actual office space.
3) can you recommend a firm that can help with the registration and paperwork?

Thanks for your help!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by Pepperoni Wong (464 days ago)

1. No, it will not be difficult, but you have to go though the Immigration Department drill, and you have to submit various documents. Do not try to be smart: they have seen and heard it all, and they can spot a phony from a mile.

2. You will have to get a registered office: whether that office is "virtual" (meaning, your address is with some 'instant office' company, or a secretarial company) or not, does not matter.

3. Any secretarial company, or accountants' office, can do the registration paperwork for you, for a fee (fees vary, so shop around a bit).

(I am based in Hong Kong)