On 30 October 2026, the Companies Registry and the Government Information Services announced that the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform (SCCLR) published its 2025–26 (40th) annual report. During the reporting period, the Government consulted the SCCLR on a legislative proposal to remove the exemption permitting mixed media offers, and briefed members on the uncertificated securities market regime and the company re-domiciliation regime. This note summarises public sources — general information only, not legal advice. A consultation or briefing is not enactment.
Key point: removing the mixed-media-offer exemption was a legislative proposal put to the SCCLR for views, not a passed Ordinance. Uncertificated securities and re-domiciliation were briefings on related regimes; rely on Companies Registry pages and any later gazetted text for operative rules.
What is the SCCLR?
The SCCLR was set up in 1984. It advises the Financial Secretary on amendments to the Companies Ordinance and the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and on Securities and Futures Ordinance amendments relating to corporate governance and shareholder protection, as and when necessary. The Chairman is Mr Johnny Mok, SC. Members include practitioners from the legal, accountancy and company-secretarial fields, academics, business representatives, and nominees from relevant government departments and financial regulators.
Three reporting-period themes
- Mixed media offers — the Government sought SCCLR views on legislation to remove the exemption that permits mixed media offers (typically allowing offering documents in both print and electronic form). Timing and detail remain subject to later legislative steps and the gazetted text.
- Uncertificated securities market — a government briefing updated members on details and latest developments. Dematerialisation aims to reduce reliance on physical share certificates and modernise market infrastructure; participant duties follow SFC / exchange / CR public guidance.
- Company re-domiciliation — likewise a briefing topic. Hong Kong already has a statutory framework for inward re-domiciliation of non-Hong Kong corporations (see the CR re-domiciliation overview); the briefing is not a fresh commencement announcement in this press release.
Practical notes for Hong Kong companies and secretaries
- Consultation ≠ commencement — the report records advice and briefings, not an immediate effective date.
- Governance and disclosure trends — listed issuers, prospective offerors and intermediaries should watch how mixed-media / electronic disclosure rules evolve.
- Re-domiciliation and group structures — groups weighing inward re-domiciliation should also review company-secretarial duties, director obligations and annual return cycles.
- Ongoing annual compliance — private companies must still file annual returns on time, keep significant-controllers registers, and meet company-secretary statutory requirements.
A Government spokesperson said the SCCLR has long been an important partner in modernising company law, and looked forward to continued cooperation to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international commercial and financial centre. The full 2025–26 annual report is available on the Companies Registry website for public inspection.
Sources: CR press release (2026-10-30) · 公司註冊處新聞公報（中文） · GIA press release (EN) · 政府新聞處（中文） · SCCLR annual reports page · Re-domiciliation overview (background)
Related services: Annual return / company secretary · Hong Kong incorporation · BVI / offshore incorporation · Hong Kong profits tax · Accounting