In order to manage the overseas Non-governmental organizations’ (“NGO”) office establishment and temporary activities filing within the mainland of China, a Guidance was issued by the Public Security Ministry and became effective on 1 January 2017. The guidance regulated that qualified foreign NGOs may apply for the establishment of representative offices in China.
Lee & Lee Associates Insights:
- Overseas NGOs may apply for the establishment of representative offices in China. However, since representative offices are not independent legal entities, overseas NGOs should bear all the legal responsibilities for the representative offices in China.
- If an overseas NGO without a representative office in China needs to carry out temporary activities in China, it should do a temporary filing. If there is neither a representative office nor a temporary filing, it should not carry out any activities in any way in China.
