A ship is registrable in Hong Kong when:

• a majority interest in the ship is owned by one or more "qualified persons", or operated under a demise charter (bare boat charter) by a corporation that is a "qualified person"
• not registered elsewhere; and
• the vessel (G.N.4653 dated 16 September 2005) is not a
  
  1. non self-propelled barge carrying petroleum products or dangerous goods of any substance which falls within the purview of the International Convention of Pollution from ships Annexes I, II or III;
  2. accommodation barge;
  3. fishing vessel;
  4. ship engaged in processing living resources of the sea, including whale and fish factories and aqua farming vessel;
  5. specialised ship engaged in research, expeditions or survey;
  6. non-convention ship serving exclusively within the domestic waters of a country (other than Hong Kong and Mainland waters) and not proceeding to sea;
  7. ship propelled by nuclear energy; or
  8. mobile offshore drilling unit.