Digitalized measures to facilitate notarization for HK investors

The Ministry of Justice and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued guidelines aimed at further facilitating notarization procedures for investors from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Scheduled for implementation in February 2026, the measures will be introduced in 14 provincial-level regions: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Hainan, according to the guidelines.

Under the new arrangement, digital versions of simplified notarized qualification documents for Hong Kong investors will replace the previous paper-based documents. Local market regulatory authorities will generally no longer request paper copies of these notarized documents and will instead use electronic versions when handling registration for the establishment or information change of Hong Kong-funded enterprises, according to the guidelines.

The digital circulation of simplified notarized qualification documents for Hong Kong investors will further maximize the institutional strengths of the system of the Chinese mainland on appointing notaries in Hong Kong (the "China-Appointed Attesting Officers System"). The new practice will enhance both the efficiency and quality of notarized document circulation, facilitate investment and business operations on the mainland for Hong Kong investors, and better support economic and trade exchanges between the two regions.