Hong Kong General/Specialized Building Contractors License - Application Guide

Hong Kong General/Specialized Building Contractors License - Application Guide

Strictly comply with the Building Ordinance and Buildings Department requirements,Promote approval efficiently

Hong Kong Registered General Building Contractors (RGBC) and Registered Specialist Contractors (RSC) areBuilding Authority/Buildings DepartmentManaged in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance (Chapter 123)。Applicants must demonstrate management structure、Personnel experience and qualifications、Ability to access industrial equipment and resources,and the capabilities of key personnel such as authorized signatories (AS);The body corporate must also appoint technical directors (TD) and other senior officers (OO) as appropriate.。

Different RSC categories and key personnel paths must be checked according to Appendix 38 of the "Registered Contractor Practice Notes"。Hong Kong Express can assist in sorting out information and following up on reviews;interview、Registration conditions、The time and result will be determined by the Buildings Department on a case-by-case basis。

Release time:Content has been reviewed
Huang Peiyi
Huang Peiyi Core Compliance Team
Served:Hong Kong senior corporate secretarial firm & Business Consulting Group
permanent residence:Hongkong Experience:9 Year
Expertise in compliance areas:Hong Kong TCSP license、Precious Metals Registration(DPMS)、license。
personal note:Huang Peiyi-has led the TCSP (Trust and Company Service Provider) license applications of many institutions in the industry,Specialized in handling Hong Kong precious metals and gemstone dealer registration (DPMS)、Bulk import and export and catering franchise qualifications。
Familiar with the regulatory application process
Professional compliance team
Standardized compliance process
Multi-jurisdictional services

1. Statutory List and Authority of General/Specialized Building Contractors License in Hong Kong

🏗️

General Building Contractors (RGBC)

Statutory qualification to carry out any building works and street works not designated as "Specialized Works Category" by the Building Authority,Covers most building construction、remodel、Maintenance works。

🔩

Specialist Contractors (RSC)

Must be approved for specific sub-roster categories (dismantling、Base、site formation、On-site land survey、ventilation system engineering),Only carry out approved specialized works。

📜

Legal register basis

Section 8A of the Buildings Ordinance authorizes the Building Authority (BA) to maintain the above two lists,The list of registered contractors is published in the Government Gazette。

2. Four core statutory requirements for general/specialized building contractor licenses in Hong Kong

🧾

Valid business registration certificate

Applicants must hold a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Chapter 310)。

👷

Authorized signatory (AS)

AS is appointed by the applicant in accordance with its legal form,Acting on behalf of the contractor under the Buildings Ordinance。General requirements include relevant academic qualifications、Approximately 5 years of experience in the construction industry and has carried out designated projects in Hong Kong;Final paths and project categories are reviewed as per Assignment Preparation 38 Appendices A to F。

👨‍💼

Technical Director (TD)

The body corporate must appoint a TD who is a director of the company。Generally speaking,TD must have a relevant degree or equivalent and 3 years of experience in the local construction industry;If it does not meet the general path,Whether a qualified AS or OO top-up is required must be determined according to Appendix 38 of Assignment Preparation。

⚙️

Industrial Equipment and Resources

Demonstrate possession or availability of necessary machinery、Equipment and human resources,Audited financial certificates are required。

3. Key Personnel Statutory Qualification Route for General/Specialized Building Contractors Licensing in Hong Kong

1️⃣

Path one

general path:AS usually has relevant advanced certificates、Diploma or equivalent,And have 5 years of experience in the construction industry and experience in designated projects in Hong Kong;TD usually has a relevant degree or equivalent and 3 years of experience in the local construction industry。The specific seniority and project nature are confirmed according to the application category and homework preparation 38 appendix。

2️⃣

Path two

Alternative or complementary path:If TD does not have general qualifications or experience,The applicant may need to be supplemented by an AS who meets the requirements or a separately appointed OO。Educational qualifications、Management experience、Engineering experience and personnel combination cannot be applied separately from Appendix 38 of Homework Preparation。

3️⃣

Path Three

The combination of key personnel is based on the legal form of the applicant、RGBC or specific RSC category and eligibility assessment for each person。TD can concurrently serve as AS when meeting the requirements at the same time;The need for OO and its qualifications will be determined by the Buildings Department based on the homework test 38 and the case-by-case basis.。

4. Comparison of specialized works categories and powers of general/specialized building contractor licenses in Hong Kong

Specialized Engineering Category Registration requirements License scope
Demolition works Proof of additional professional qualifications and equipment Demolition of buildings or structures only
Basic engineering pile foundation、Underground structures and other specialized technologies Various types of foundation construction
Site formation works earth excavation、Landfill and compaction equipment Site leveling and preparation
On-site land survey engineering In situ testing、Drilling sampling technology Obtain geological data for design use
Ventilation system engineering Mechanical ventilation equipment installation and commissioning Internal building air conditioning

 

香港注册承建商 业界交流
Hong Kong Registered Contractor Industry Exchange

5. Application review process for general/specialized building contractor license in Hong Kong

Step 1:Prepare a full set of supporting documents

Fill in BA2 and CL-BA2,and prepare business registration in legal form、Business registration information、RR1 to RR4、key personnel、industrial equipment、Documents such as resources and company resolutions。

Step 2:Submit application to Buildings Department

Submit the application in person or by post to the Contractor Registration Section of the Buildings Department,After confirming that the information is complete, you will receive written confirmation of receipt.。

Step 3:Preliminary review by the Buildings Department (within 2 months)

If the documents are complete,The Buildings Department will forward the case to the Contractors Registration Committee (CRC) within 2 months after receiving the application.;If the documents are incomplete, they will be forwarded within 5 months at the latest.。

Step 4:CRC Interview Assessment

Generally speaking,New AS applicants must undergo an interview with the Contractors Registration Committee;Those who have been previously admitted and meet the relevant requirements may only undergo internal review。The arrangement and scope are as per Assignment Preparation 38 Appendix I and Case Notice。

Step 5:Committee recommendation and approval

After the CRC considers it eligible,Registration officially approved by the Building Authority (BA),Gazette,Issue a certificate of registration。

6. List of information required for Hong Kong general/specialized building contractor license application

Application form BA2、Checklist CL-BA2 and applicable RR1 to RR4 declarations and supporting documents。

Company registration certificate、Business registration certificate、Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association

Minutes of meetings and list of directors appointed by the Board of Directors as Technical Directors (TD)

Educational certificates of Authorized Signatory (AS) and Technical Director (TD)、Professional qualifications、Proof of work experience and letters of recommendation

Auditor's report with termination date within 18 months before application;Newly established company、Partnership or sole proprietorship can submit balance sheet within 3 months before application。Generally, working capital is required to be positive and business capital is not less than HK$200,000.,Please refer to the current notice of the Buildings Department.。

List of mechanical equipment owned or deployable and relevant supporting documents

Past relevant project contract records or project resume (if any)

Other supplementary documents required by the Buildings Department (such as overseas academic qualification evaluation report)

7. Compliance red lines and failure risks for general/specialized building contractor licenses in Hong Kong

[Key Personnel Arrangement] Key personnel will generally not be admitted as key personnel of another registered contractor at the same time,However, Appendix L of Homework Preparation 38 sets out special arrangements for the same group of key personnel to act;Must first check whether it is applicable。

[Renewal of work certificate or further education] Renewal/re-listing requires submission of relevant construction project work certificate according to Appendix M of Work Note 38,or proof of completion of an accredited continuing professional development course;Whether the interview is subject to fast-track approval conditions、Records and case decisions。

[Conviction and Disciplinary Records] Contractors and key personnel must submit RR2/RR3 declarations。Records affect review and whether expedited procedures can be adopted,However, the consequences will be determined by the Buildings Department and the Committee based on the nature and facts.,Cannot be generalized as inevitable interview or rejection。

【Key personnel changes】AS、The resignation and succession of TD or OO shall be in accordance with regulations、Handling homework preparations and notifications from the Buildings Department。Declaration deadline、Transition arrangements and impacts on construction in progress should be confirmed by written decision,Unable to use a unified "immediate shutdown" expression。

[No lending or false use of registration] Contractors and key personnel must truly perform their duties,不得容许第三方冒用注册或向屋宇署作虚假陈述具体罪名最高刑罚和民事责任取决于行为控罪及事故事实不能统一写成监禁14年

【外地学历】屋宇署按作业备考38和获接纳学历资料库评估学历是否须HKCAAVQ评估专业团体确认或补充证明取决于学历和申请路径,Not all foreign academic qualifications are subject to the same process。

[Risk of long-term departure of technical directors from Hong Kong] TD is not in Hong Kong for a long time or does not participate in substantive technical supervision,may be deemed to have failed to perform statutory supervisory duties,Resulting in license revocation。

8. Frequently Asked Questions about General/Specialized Building Contractors License in Hong Kong (FAQ)

Subsidiaries established in Hong Kong by overseas or mainland parent companies,Can I apply for an RGBC or RSC license directly?+

The applicant can be a sole proprietorship holding a valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate、partnership or body corporate,Not limited to limited companies established in Hong Kong。AS in different legal forms、TD、OO and authorization files are arranged differently,Must be prepared separately according to official guidelines。

Can the same key person serve as both AS and TD within the same company?+

Can。If the person is both a registered director of the company (satisfying TD status),And have construction management experience and qualifications recognized by the Buildings Department (satisfying AS status),One person can hold two jobs at the same time,This is more common among small and medium-sized contractors。

Can an AS or TD work for two different building contractor companies and apply for licenses?+

Generally speaking,Key personnel will not be admitted as key personnel of another registered contractor at the same time;Assignment Preparation 38 Appendix L lists special arrangements for key personnel working in the same group。Before applying, the relationship between the two companies must be determined、Category and staffing are confirmed by the Buildings Department。

If the company’s only AS suddenly leaves the company,What legal consequences will the company face?+

The company should promptly notify the Buildings Department and add qualified AS according to the applicable procedures.。Can we continue to undertake or carry out projects?、The period of re-appointment and whether it will affect the status of the roster must be determined in accordance with regulations、Licensing status and written notification from the Buildings Department,It cannot be summarized as immediate loss of all qualifications。

Do mainland or overseas construction-related academic qualifications directly meet the academic requirements for applying for AS or TD?+

Foreign academic qualifications must be accompanied by certificates、Submission of course and certificate requirements required by the Buildings Department,And evaluated based on homework preparation 38 and accepted academic qualifications database。Whether additional HKCAAVQ or professional body assessment is required depends on the qualification and path,Not always mandatory。

What is the pass rate for AS interviews? What should I do if I fail the interview?+

The Buildings Department does not publish a uniform interview pass rate that supports the use of this page.。The application result can be accepted、postpone or refuse;Supplementary parts、Re-application or appeal path should be notified as per decision、"Building Ordinance" and professional advice handling。

Are there any requirements for a company’s minimum paid-up share capital to apply for RGBC?+

The current Buildings Department notice states,Generally speaking, working capital must be a positive number,Business capital must be no less than HK$200,000;This is not the same concept as "minimum paid-up share capital"。The applicant must submit an auditor's report or a recent balance sheet of eligible new business to demonstrate the ability to access resources.。

Can contractors who have obtained RGBC licenses directly undertake demolition projects?+

cannot。Demolition works fall under the category of specialized works,Even RGBC,They must also apply separately to the Buildings Department for registration as a Specialist Contractor (RSC) and meet the specific professional qualifications and equipment requirements for this category.,Can only be accepted after approval。

Do I need to re-interview AS when my license is renewed?+

Registration period is 3 years。Renewal must submit BA2A and CL-BA2A between 4 months and 28 days before expiration。Applications that meet the conditions for rapid approval will be notified within 28 days;Generally, applicants will be notified within 3 months after all the information is complete.,Cases requiring referral to the committee may be scheduled for interviews。

What is "Continuing Professional Development (CPD)",How does it affect license renewal?+

For renewal or re-listing, relevant engineering work certificates must be submitted according to official requirements.,or proof of completion of a recognized continuing professional development course。CPD is not a single path with a fixed number of hours for each AS as stated on the page.;Subject to current announcements and cases。

What are the legal risks of borrowing or “renting” a building license to an unlicensed third party?+

Not allowed to lend、Register fraudulently or make false statements。Does it constitute fraud?、misrepresentation or other offense,and criminal penalties and civil liability,Depends on specific behavior、Charge、Contract and accident judgment;All situations cannot be uniformly written as a maximum prison sentence of 14 years or unlimited liability.。

The proposed AS person has a criminal record or has been bankrupt,Will it affect license application?+

meeting。The Buildings Department and CRC will assess whether he is a "Fit and Proper Person"。involving fraud、Criminal record for breach of site safety or dishonesty,or is in bankruptcy,Often results in application rejection。

Is it compliant for a technical director (TD) to be absent from Hong Kong for a long time?+

Extremely high compliance risk。TD must implement substantive technical supervision over the company's projects,If you leave Hong Kong for a long time and do not participate in actual management,The Buildings Department may determine that the company has failed to perform its statutory technical supervision duties,Initiate disciplinary action or even revoke license。

9. Relevant regulations、Regulatory information and further reading

official information Verification purpose
Buildings Department:Registration Guidelines for General and Specialized Contractors qualifications、BA2、document、processing node、interview、3Annual registration and renewal
Registered Contractor Practice Test Preparation 38 key personnel、category、Detailed rules for interviews and renewals
2023Annual Contractor Resource Utilization Notice Positive working capital and business capital of HK$200,000
Buildings Department prescribed fees Review fees before submission and payment
Buildings Department Registration List Inquiry Check with the contractor、Category and current status

10. Hong Kong General and Specialized Building Contractors License-Sample

香港一般 专门建筑承建商牌照 样张
Hong Kong General Specialized Building Contractor License Sample
Financial compliance consultant WeChat consultation
Financial compliance consultant avatar
Financial Compliance Consultant 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
WeChat QR code
13417046218
Scan the QR code to add WeChat
Hong Kong and Chinese team · Financial compliance consultant