Hong Kong company law does not set a minimum share capital for companies; in theory, it can be as low as HK$1. In practice, however, although there is no specified statutory minimum share capital for a pharmaceutical licence application, the amount is an important reference point for regulators assessing a company's financial soundness. A very low share capital, such as only a few thousand Hong Kong dollars, may lead regulators to question whether the company has sufficient financial resources to support its normal business operations, including paying rent and staff salaries, purchasing medicines and dealing with possible unexpected events such as a medicine recall. Therefore, although the law does not specify a minimum, having reasonable share capital proportionate to the scale of the business is advisable from an application strategy perspective.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
Is there a minimum registered capital requirement for a company applying for a pharmaceutical licence?
A complete explanation of the regulatory basis, Drew Tang’s recommendations and risk alerts. The original material dates from 2025; read it alongside the latest official requirements.
Original guide, 2025 edition: These FAQs are provided for topic-based reference and have not all been individually checked against current rules. Please confirm fees, personnel, renewal, changes and product requirements against the professional in-depth guide for the relevant licence type and the official requirements in force at the time.
Back to Category C: Applicant Eligibility and Personnel Requirements (Q101-Q150) Search more questions