Hong Kong Domain Name Registration

Registering Hong Kong Domain Names

Hong Kong domain names can be registered in accordance with the regulations of the Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Company Limited (HKDNR). The HKDNR is the official registry that administers the .hk top level domains: .com.hk, .org.hk, .gov.hk, .edu.hk, .net.hk, .idv.hk, and .hk.

After an applicant chooses a domain name, they must complete an online application form. After payment and documentary proof are processed, email notification of the application result is sent for an .hk domain. The HKDNR holds the right to refuse your application, or cancel your registration if you fail to provide the correct documentary proof of identification. The documentary proof depends upon the type of domain you are registering. For example, to register an .edu.hk, a copy of the Certificate of a School issued by Education and Manpower Bureau must be provided. Registration fees are paid at the time of registration. The fees are non-refundable. Applicants may register more than one domain at the same time.

Applicants can apply for new registration to HKDNR either directly, or through authorized registration service providers or registrars. The list of authorized registrars is available on the Service Partners page. Applicants are now permitted to have a number of Hong Kong domain names, which was not the case initially.

During domain name selection, one can select a Chinese domain name or an English domain name. A Chinese domain name is a mixture of English letters, hyphens, numeric codes and Chinese characters and must not exceed fifteen characters excluding the .hk code. One cannot use a hyphen in the fourth or successive preceding character position. Applicants can use any character other than the hyphen at the beginning and the end. For an English domain name, the rules are the same as that for a Chinese domain name. However, the applicant is excluded from using Chinese characters in the domain name. Including domain names that are reserved for HKDNR is prohibited. However applicants also have the right to register reserved domain names.

Applicants can use the WHOIS search engine to find whether the domain name selected is already registered by another individual.