All business activities in Hong Kong must be registered under the Business Registration Ordinance. Businesses carried on by incorporated companies are required to be registered under both the Companies Ordinance and the Business Registration Ordinance.

Business vehicles can be classified as:

There are two main types of unincorporated business vehicles:

(i) sole proprietorships (sole traders); and

(ii) partnerships.

Incorporated companies may be differentiated by their membership and liability characteristics:

• Membership
  
  
  1. Private
  2. Exempt private
  3. Public
  4. Public listed
     
     
     
• Liability
  
  
  1. Limited
     1. by share
     2. by guarantee
     3. by share and guarantee
        
        
  2. Unlimited
     1. with share capital
     2. without share capital