HSIC Section M: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services — HSIC Guide

HSIC Section M covers divisions 69 to 75 of the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). It classifies establishments engaged in professional, scientific and technical activities — from legal and accounting services to architectural, engineering, scientific research, advertising, and veterinary activities. This guide explains the section's structure, how to select the correct code for your business, and how HSIC codes interact with Business Registration and company formation.

What is HSIC Section M and who uses it?

HSIC Section M is the statistical classification for establishments providing professional, scientific and technical services — activities that require a high degree of training and make specialised knowledge available to users. The section spans seven divisions (69–75) and is used by the C&SD for statistical surveys, by government departments for licensing and procurement, and increasingly by banks and payment processors during company onboarding.

The HSIC is Hong Kong's adaptation of the United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). Version 2.0 is the current edition; check the latest guidance from the C&SD for any subsequent revisions before finalising your code selection.

Why the code matters beyond statistics

• Business Registration: Your Business Registration Certificate (BRC) does not itself display an HSIC code, but the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and C&SD use industry classification when profiling businesses. Consistency between your stated business nature and your HSIC code avoids queries.
• Bank account opening: Banks routinely ask for a business nature description; an HSIC code provides an unambiguous, verifiable answer.
• Government funding and tenders: Eligibility criteria for schemes administered by bodies such as the Trade and Industry Department or the Innovation and Technology Commission frequently reference industry classification.
• Company Registry filings: While the Companies Registry (CR) does not mandate an HSIC code in incorporation documents, the "business nature" field should align with your chosen classification.

The seven divisions of Section M

Section M comprises the following divisions. Each division breaks down into groups and classes; the six-digit class is the level you normally report.

Important: Always verify the exact division-to-class mapping against the official HSIC Version 2.0 documentation from the C&SD. The table above reflects the ISIC Rev. 4 structure on which HSIC V2.0 is based; minor national adaptations may apply.

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How do I choose the right HSIC code for my professional firm?

Choose the six-digit class that describes your principal revenue-generating activity, not every service you offer. If your firm earns most revenue from one activity, that activity's class is your primary code. Secondary activities do not require separate codes for most purposes.

Selection principles

1. Principal activity first. Identify the activity that generates the majority of turnover. A law firm that also offers company secretarial services is still classified under legal activities.
2. Match the level of specificity. Use the six-digit class where available. A four-digit group is acceptable only where the six-digit breakdown does not distinguish your activity.
3. Avoid "other" classes unless necessary. Codes ending in "Other…" (e.g. "Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.") should be a last resort — they signal to banks and counterparties that your activity is unusual.
4. Check for cross-section traps. IT consultancy sits in Section J (Information and Communication), not Section M. Management consultancy sits in division 70. Bookkeeping sits with accounting in division 69, but payroll processing may fall elsewhere. Confirm against the official HSIC index.
5. Keep it consistent. Your HSIC code, your business nature on the BR form, and your bank's KYC description should tell the same story.

Worked examples

Because HSIC V2.0 contains national adaptations, always confirm the exact six-digit class and title against the C&SD's official classification before submitting it to any authority.

Eligibility: who needs an HSIC Section M code?

Any business whose principal activity is professional, scientific or technical should classify under Section M. There is no registration threshold — a sole practitioner and a 500-person consultancy both require a code for statistical and onboarding purposes.

• Sole proprietors and partnerships: The Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) requires registration of every business; the HSIC code supports the business nature description.
• Incorporated companies: Under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), a company must state its business nature at incorporation; the HSIC code operationalises this.
• Non-residents: A non-resident can own a Hong Kong company, but must appoint a local company secretary (for a private company) and a registered address in Hong Kong. The HSIC code is unaffected by residency.
• Regulated professions: Lawyers, CPAs, surveyors, and veterinary surgeons must hold the relevant professional licence or registration in addition to the HSIC classification. The HSIC code does not confer any right to practise.

Under section 5(1) of the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), every person carrying on any business in Hong Kong must apply for business registration within one month of commencement. The HSIC code supports, but does not replace, this obligation.

Timelines: how long does classification and registration take?

HSIC code selection is not a separate government application — it is embedded in the business registration and incorporation process. The timeline is therefore the timeline of those processes.

The HSIC code itself adds no processing time. Delays arise when the stated business nature is vague or inconsistent with supporting documents.

Cost metrics: what does classification cost?

HSIC classification is free — the C&SD publishes the classification for public use. The costs you incur are the statutory business registration and incorporation fees, not classification fees.

Do not rely on historical figures for the BR fee or incorporation fee — both are revised periodically. The IRD and CR publish current schedules.

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Suitability: who is Section M for — and who is it not for?

Section M is for establishments whose output is specialised knowledge, advice, design, testing, research, or creative professional work sold to clients. It is not for businesses whose principal activity is goods production, retail, hospitality, logistics, or general IT services.

Best suited to Section M:

• Professional practices (legal, accounting, architectural, engineering, surveying)
• Consultancies (management, technical, environmental)
• Research and development organisations
• Advertising agencies and market research firms
• Design, translation, and specialist technical service providers
• Veterinary practices

Not suited to Section M — look elsewhere:

• IT consultancy and software development: Section J (Information and Communication)
• Bookkeeping-only services without accounting qualification: may still fall in division 69 — confirm against the HSIC index
• Recruitment and HR outsourcing: administrative and support service activities (Section N)
• Training and education: Section P
• Financial advisory and brokerage: Section K (Financial and Insurance Activities)
• Real estate agency: Section L

If your business straddles two sections, classify by principal revenue activity. Where revenue is genuinely split, choose the activity with the larger share and disclose the secondary activity in your business description.

Common pitfalls when selecting a Section M code

1. Using a Section J code for IT work. Software development, IT consultancy, and data processing belong in Section J, not Section M.
2. Confusing management consultancy (division 70) with business support services (Section N). Division 70 covers strategic and organisational advice; routine administrative support does not belong there.
3. Over-specifying. Choosing a narrow class that describes a minor service line rather than the principal activity invites queries from banks and the IRD.
4. Ignoring professional licensing. An HSIC code does not substitute for a practising certificate from the Law Society of Hong Kong, HKICPA, or the relevant registration body.
5. Failing to update after a pivot. If your business changes its principal activity, update your business nature description at the next BR renewal and inform your bank.

Step-by-step: classifying your professional firm

1. Identify principal activity: Determine which service generates the majority of your turnover.
2. Locate the division: Match the activity to divisions 69–75 using the C&SD HSIC V2.0 documentation.
3. Drill to six-digit class: Select the most specific class that describes the principal activity; avoid "n.e.c." classes where a specific class exists.
4. Cross-check against the index: Use the alphabetical index in the HSIC documentation to confirm the class title matches your activity.
5. Align with business registration: State the business nature on your BR application consistently with the HSIC class.
6. Record for onboarding: Keep the code and title on file for bank KYC, tender submissions, and funding applications.
7. Review annually: Reassess at BR renewal if your principal activity has changed.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is an HSIC code mandatory for Business Registration? A: The BRC does not display an HSIC code, but the business nature you declare should align with your HSIC classification. The IRD and C&SD use industry classification for statistical and administrative purposes. Check the latest IRD guidance for the exact declaration requirements.

Q: Can I hold more than one HSIC code? A: For most purposes a single principal-activity code suffices. Where a business genuinely operates distinct activities, some statistical returns permit multiple codes; confirm with the C&SD.

Q: Does my HSIC code affect my profits tax rate? A: No. Profits tax under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) depends on the nature of the profits and the entity's status, not on the HSIC code. The two-tiered profits tax rates apply irrespective of industry.

Q: Where can I find the official HSIC V2.0 classification? A: From the Census and Statistics Department. The full classification, including the alphabetical index and correspondence tables to ISIC, is published by the C&SD.

Q: My firm offers both legal and company secretarial services. Which code? A: Classify by principal revenue activity. If legal services dominate, use the legal activities class; the company secretarial work is a secondary activity and does not require a separate code for most purposes.

Key takeaways

• HSIC Section M covers divisions 69–75: legal and accounting, head offices and management consultancy, architecture and engineering, scientific R&D, advertising and market research, other professional activities, and veterinary activities.
• Classification is free; the costs you pay are statutory BR and incorporation fees, which change periodically — verify with the IRD and CR.
• Choose the six-digit class matching your principal revenue activity; avoid "n.e.c." classes and Section J traps for IT work.
• The HSIC code supports but does not replace professional licensing or business registration obligations under Cap. 310 and Cap. 622.
• Review your code at each BR renewal if your business model changes.

-> Use the HSIC Code Finder at /hsic-finder to look up your specific code.