The Hong Kong Company Registry launched new internet search services Friday which enable customers to have online access any time to current data of registered companies.

Through the new electronic search services, users around the world can enjoy online access to the most updated company information, including more than 80 million pages of image records of documents registered and kept by the registry.

"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 center," said Frederick Ma, secretary for financial services and the treasury.

A 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.

Source: Xinhua