Hong Kong: consultation on a register of beneficial ownership for companies

Earlier this year the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau published a consultation paper on proposed reforms to the Companies Ordinance that would require all companies incorporated in Hong Kong (including unlimited companies, those limited by shares and by guarantee) to obtain and maintain beneficial ownership information for public inspection: see here (pdf). The intention is that listed companies should be exempt from these new requirements because they are already subject to a requirement under the Securities and Futures Ordinance to keep a register of interests in shares.