.HK

.HK is the official country code Top-Level-Domain (ccTLD) of Hong Kong.

Introduced	1990
Country	Hong Kong
Registry	HKIRC
IDN Capable	Yes
Webpage	Register .HK

Registry

TLD	.hk
Allowed TLDs	.hk, .com.hk
Registry	HKIRC
Dispute Policy	Rules
Registrar	1api GmbH
WHOIS-Server	whois.hkirc.hk
WHOIS-Update	every two hours
Min. Characters	2
Max. Characters	63
Character Set	Letters and numbers Hyphens ("-"), however not at the beginning or directly in front of the TLD IDN: allowed
Limitations	Registrant Contacts: Required: 1 / Maximum: 1 Admin Contacts: Required: 1 / Maximum: 1 Tech Contacts: Required: 1 / Maximum: 1 Billing Contacts: Required: 1 / Maximum: 1
{{{Possible Extensions}}}
IDN capable	Yes
Restore capable	Manual
Handle Updates	Unsupported
Registration System	Real-Time
Allowed number of NS	2 to 13
Registry Nameservercheck	No
Host IP-Addresses Type	IPv4
Hosts managed as	Object
Root Nameserver Update	hourly
SEC DNS Interface	not available
Transferclass	Pull
Transfer Periods	0Y
Transfer Authcode required	Yes
Transfer Real-Time	No
Transfer Pending Period	3 days
Transfer Expire Action	ACK
Transfer ACK by	Registrar
Transfer NACK by	Registrar
Transfer Lock	No
Owner Change by	Trade
Trade Periods	-
Transfer included	No
Trade Confirmation (Request / Approve)	- / Fax

Periods

{{{Possible Extensions}}}
Registration Periods	1-3 years / 5 years
Add Grace Period	0 days
Accounting Period	-1 week
Finalization Period	-2 days
Failure Period	-2 days
Payment Period	-61 days
Deletion Restorable Period	60 days
Deletion Hold Period	0 days
Explicit Renewals	Yes
Renewal Periods	1-3 years / 5 years

API

Domain Registration

Domains can be registered in Real-Time with the API AddDomain command.

command = AddDomain
domain  = (DOMAIN)

REQUIRED

ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)
admincontact0 = (CONTACT)
techcontact0 = (CONTACT)
billingcontact0 = (CONTACT)
nameserver0 = (NAMESERVER)
nameserver1 = (NAMESERVER)

OPTIONAL

auth = <TEXT> | <NULL>
transferlock = 0 | 1 | <NULL>
subuser = <TEXT> | <NULL>

X-HK-REGISTRANT-CHINESE-COMPANY = <TEXT>
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-TYPE = <TEXT> (mandatory, if X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-TYPE is 'OTHIDV' or 'OTHORG')
X-HK-REGISTRANT-OTHER-DOCUMENT-TYPE = <TEXT>
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-NUMBER = <TEXT>
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-ORIGIN-COUNTRY = <COUNTRY>
X-HKX-HK-ACCEPT-INDIVIDUAL-REGISTRATION-TAC = 0 | 1 (0 = No, 1 = Yes) (mandatory, it the registrant is an individual)
X-REGISTRANT-BIRTH-DATE = YYYY-MM-DD (mandatory, if the registrant is an individual)
X-HK-ACCEPT-INDIVIDUAL-REGISTRATION-TAC = 0 | 1 (mandatory if the registrant is an individual)

Domain Transfer

The transfer has to be initiated by the gaining registrar and can be requested with the API TransferDomain command.
A valid Authorization Code must be provided to initiate a transfer successfully. You may obtain the authorization code from the losing registrar.
As soon as a domain transfer has been initiated it can either be approved ("ACK") by Registrar or denied ("NACK") by Registrar. If the registry receives neither a denial ("NACK") nor an approval ("ACK") the transfer will be ACKed after 3 days.

command = TransferDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

REQUIRED

action = REQUEST | APPROVE | DENY | CANCEL | USERTRANSFER
auth = <TEXT>

OPTIONAL

order = CREATE | REPLACE | UPDATE

subuser = <TEXT> | <NULL>
period = <PERIOD>
transferlock = 0 | 1 | <NULL>

Delete Domain

Domains can be deleted with the API DeleteDomain command.
There is a Deletion Restorable Period of 60 days.

command = DeleteDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

Restore Domain

Restores can be processed manually within 60 days upon deletion. Please use the command RestoreDomain.

command = RestoreDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

OPTIONAL

renewalmode = <NULL> | <TEXT>
subuser = <TEXT>

Ownerchange

All contact information with the exception of registrant Name, Firstname and Organisation can be updated through the ModifyDomain command.

Please note that the registry does not support handle updates. You have to create a new handle containing the same information for Name, Firstname and Organisation as well as the updated contact information and attach it to the domain with the ModifyDomain command.

In order to change the owner you have to request a trade with the TradeDomain command. This can be done through our web interface or through our API:

command = TradeDomain
domain = <DOMAIN>
ownercontact0 = <CONTACT>

You have to state the contact handle of the new registrant. Please remember that the registry does not allow handle updates. Please do always create a new contact handle and do not use modified contact handles.

Before a trade gets processed by the registry, a confirmation is required: A fax form is required by the registry to process a trade. Once confirmed then the trade will be processed.

A Change of Registrar with the simultaneous change in the Registrant is not possible. Please be aware that domain name must be already managed by us. If the domain is currently managed by another registrar there are two possibilities:
   1.) first step: transfer the domain to us, second step: trade the domain with us.
   2.) first step: trade the domain with the current registrar, second step: transfer the domain to us.

TLD specific

Domain registration

Additional API parameters needed for the registration of .HK domains:

X-HK-REGISTRANT-CHINESE-COMPANY = <TEXT> (optional)

Company name with Chinese characters:
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-TYPE = <TEXT> (mandatory)

Registrant Document Type. Please refer to the possible values below:

• • If the registrant is an individual:
    • HKID - Hong Kong Identity Number
    • OTHID - Other's Country Identity Number
    • PASSNO - Passport No.
    • BIRTHCERT - Birth Certificate
    • OTHIDV - Others Individual Document
  • If the registrant is an organization:
    • BR - Business Registration Certificate
    • CI - Certificate of Incorporation
    • CRS - Certificate of Registration of a School
    • HKSARG - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Department
    • HKORDINANCE - Ordinance of Hong Kong
    • OTHORG - Others Organization Document

X-HK-REGISTRANT-OTHER-DOCUMENT-TYPE = <TEXT> (mandatory, if X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-TYPE is 'OTHIDV' or 'OTHORG')
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-NUMBER = <TEXT> (mandatory)
X-HK-REGISTRANT-DOCUMENT-ORIGIN-COUNTRY = <COUNTRY> (mandatory)
X-HK-REGISTRANT-BIRTH-DATE = YYYY-MM-DD (mandatory, if the registrant is an individual)
X-HK-ACCEPT-INDIVIDUAL-REGISTRATION-TAC = 0 | 1 (0 = No, 1 = Yes) (mandatory, it the registrant is an individual - For explanations see the paragraph below) 

Additional agreement if the registrant is an individual:

X-HK-ACCEPT-INDIVIDUAL-REGISTRATION-TAC = 0 | 1 (0 = No | 1 = Yes)

The customer is aware that the official .HK registry registration policy requires all individuals to provide identification (i.e. passport numbers) to register a .HK domain. In processing .HK domain registrations through HEXONET, the customer explicitly authorizes HEXONET to transmit this information to the registry on the customer's behalf in the fulfillment of .HK registration policy and the registration of domain names.

The customer in submitting a .HK domain registration through HEXONET explicitly agrees to indemnify HEXONET against any and all liability, loss, damages and legal costs in the transmission of identification information, understanding that HEXONET deletes identification information from all its systems immediately after transmission. The customer understands and accepts that the .HK registry may choose to store identification information along with other registration data on their own accord and completely independent from HEXONET.

Ownerchange

an ownerchange have to be requested via TRADE command. After the TRADE has been started, you will find the so-called TNR number within the command response/object-log for this domain. This number should be placed on the form and the form must be submitted to the address below.

Via regular mail:
Unit 2002-2005, 20/F ING Tower
308 Des Voeux Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Via Fax:
+852.23192626

Via e-Mail:
[email protected]

A Transfer Application Letter must be printed on the letterhead, signed by the current AND new owner and contain company stamps of the current OR new owner if applicable, and the Tracking Number which can be retrieved within the command response or object log of the TRADE command.

There are different types of Transfer Application Letters depending on whether the new owner is a business or an individual.

CASE 1 - New owner is a business: Organization
CASE 2 - New owner is an individual: Individual

On receipt of all the documents, HKDNR will process the ownerchange application. HKDNR will inform the old and new owner of the status of the ownerchange application normally within 3 WORKING DAYS after receiving all items.

Domain Renewal

Domains can be renewed explicitly with the API RenewDomain command.
Valid Renewal Periods are: 1-3 years / 5 years.

Notification emails from the .HK Registry

The .HK Registry (HKDNR) sends out email notifications upon the renewal of a .HK domain. Three (3) emails are sent to the registrant of the domain upon renewal:

• HKDNR will send a reminder to the registrant that the payment for the renewal must be made within seven (7) days before the expiration date of the domain.
• HKDNR will send a notice to the registrant to acknowledge the receipt of the domain name renewal request (this request is made by our renewal system automatically).
• HKDNR will send a notice to the registrant to acknowledge the successful renewal.

Please note that you don't need to react on these emails.

Our renewal system renews the domains and charges your account at the correct date.

RegistrarOC

Restore Process

To restore a domain as a RegistrarOC customer, please execute the RestoreDomain command. Please note that the restore will be handled manually and the domain will not be available in real-time.