Enter Hong Kong market with a .HK Domain

The policy answers this in one line for second-level names: all interested individuals and entities are eligible to register them. HKIRC's eligibility table likewise describes the registrant for .hk as «local or overseas individuals or entities». Two exceptions apply: children are not eligible to register a domain name, and minors may apply only if the application is jointly executed by a parent or guardian.

Yes. HKIRC's eligibility table describes the registrant for .hk and .香港 explicitly as «local or overseas individuals or entities» and asks for no documents as a rule at the second level. No Hong Kong company, address or local agent is required for this zone. The zone reserved for commercial identity, .com.hk, is the one that requires a commercial entity registered in Hong Kong.

The difference is eligibility. .hk is registered directly at the second level and is open to all interested individuals and entities. .com.hk is reserved for commercial entities registered in Hong Kong, and an application must be supported by a Business Registration Certificate or one of the registration certificates issued by the Companies Registry. In short: .hk for a personal or foreign-based project, .com.hk for a company registered in Hong Kong.

Under clause 4.2, the two parts of a second-level English domain name, including the dot between them, cannot exceed 63 characters in total. Only letters A to Z, digits 0 to 9 and hyphens are allowed, and case is not distinguished. The name must begin and end with a letter or a digit, and hyphens are not allowed in the third and fourth character positions. Clause 4.3 repeats the same rules for third-level names. An application that does not meet them may be refused.

Yes, subject to two rules. A .hk Chinese domain name must contain at least one Chinese character and cannot exceed 15 characters in total length excluding the extension; a hyphen may not appear at the beginning or the end, nor as the third and fourth characters. Second, all applications for Chinese domain names received after the policies took effect are allocated under the .香港 top-level domain; no .hk Chinese application is entertained when the equivalent name is available under .香港.

If the renewal fee is not paid by the due date, the registrar cancels the registration and the domain name enters a black-out period. During it the holder may apply to reinstate the name by paying the renewal fee, the late charge and any other outstanding fees; if no application is made, the name may be released into the public domain. HKIRC sets the date range and it may last no more than 90 calendar days. The reminder email goes to the administrative and billing contacts recorded in WHOIS.

There are two distinct operations. To change registrar, the authorisation password is provided to the new registrar; in the policy's words, providing it is also proof that the registrant agrees to the change. Changing the holder of the name is a separate process: the parties jointly execute a transfer form, and the transferee must comply with the eligibility requirements applicable to that name. You can start the steps on the domain transfer page.

Yes. There is no standard document list at the second level, but the policy gives the registrar an explicit power: in deciding whether to accept an application it may require the submission of any documentary evidence it considers necessary to verify the registrant's identity. A separate rule covers branches: where a name is held by a branch or representative office, an undertaking from the head office accepting responsibility for claims and disputes over the name must be provided to the registrar.