This note is for a buyer comparing a Chinese company’s public registration result with a quotation, contract, invoice or supplier statement. It does not inspect a particular supplier, person, signature, document or transaction.
CONTRACTING IDENTITY / 01
Check what each named person does.
Keep the public registration field narrow
For a mainland company, the registration rules list the legal representative’s name. A branch records its person in charge instead. Copy the exact Chinese entity name, Unified Social Credit Code, displayed person and role, source URL and query date.
That is a dated public-record fact. Do not silently turn it into a conclusion that the named person signed a deal, may sign a deal, owns an account or controls a factory.
Follow the official China company-registration search and identity steps →
ROLE RECORD / 02
Compare the names and roles on your documents.
| Evidence line | Record the dated fact | Question it can open | It does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official registration result | Chinese legal entity, Unified Social Credit Code, displayed legal-representative name, source URL and query date | What legal-representative field does the public result show at that time? | A particular deal signature, signing authority or transaction safety |
| Deal signatory | Exact name, document role, document version, signature date and source document | Who is named as signing or approving this document? | The person’s employment, authority, identity or relationship to the entity |
| Supplier-provided role statement | Exact statement, stated role or basis, channel, sender and date | How does the supplier say the signatory relates to the contracting entity? | Independent confirmation that the statement is true or legally sufficient |
| Contract seller and bank beneficiary | Exact seller and beneficiary names, document dates and any relationship explanation | Are the entity, signatory and payment records consistent or explicitly explained? | Account ownership, payment safety, delivery or order performance |
A documented relationship can make the next question more precise. It does not establish signatory authority, contract validity, supplier safety, payment safety or order performance. Use the bank-beneficiary checklist for the separate payment-document comparison →
Treat a name difference as a follow-up record, not a verdict
If the names differ, keep both records. Through an independently verified contact channel, ask the supplier for the signer’s role and supporting documents. Save its response with the date and source.
For a material contract, seek legal review of any unresolved signing question. Compare the sales name, legal entity and document names →
Read how a changed legal-representative field remains a dated record, not a supplier verdict →
MEASURED / WHEN THE ROLE DOES NOT EXIST
Hong Kong companies need a different role check
First confirm where the contracting company is incorporated. A mainland company’s legal-representative field cannot be carried over to a Hong Kong company. The relevant roles and rules differ.
Searching the English names of 106 Chinese manufacturers on the NHTSA list returned 84 candidate records. These are search candidates, not 84 confirmed suppliers.
| Registered in | Records | Role to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 73 | Company: legal representative (法定代表人); branch: person in charge |
| Hong Kong | 11 | Directors and the basis for signing |
Eleven of the 84 candidates were Hong Kong entities. For a Hong Kong company, check the director record and ask how the person signing will act for the company. The Companies Registry’s guide to document execution describes several routes. A separate board resolution is not required for every signature.
If you use an Annual Return (NAR1), check its date and any later changes. It shows details as at the return date, not necessarily today. The official forms list includes ND2A for director appointments or departures and ND2B for changed particulars. Keep the signer’s stated basis and supporting documents with the contract. An unresolved authority question may need Hong Kong legal review.
This sample publishes counts and registration locations, without identifying officers.
18 of 44 returned records listed one shareholder
In a query of 45 manufacturers on 22 August 2026, 44 returned shareholder records. 18 listed one shareholder. This is an ownership count, not evidence of who may sign.
The NHTSA manufacturer study explains how the sample was selected. The shareholder counts above use the 22 August query. No shareholder names are published here.
Method and limitations
The sources below describe registered roles and signing procedures. They were checked on 5 September 2026. The tables help you compare documents; they do not determine signing authority.
This guide has not assessed your supplier or contract. It is general research guidance, not legal advice. Records and documents can change.
Do not rely on a sales profile to supply every registered field. In the 28 August 2026 sample, 59 of 59 sampled 1688 factory cards named a legal representative; none of the 33 Alibaba.com profiles did. Get the exact Chinese company name and code, then check the current registration record. Other people may also be authorised to sign.
PRIMARY SOURCES / 03
Official sources used for this note
Regulatory sources were checked on 5 September 2026. The research query dates remain those shown beside each table. Check a current record for your own counterparty.
| What the row is | Rows | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-branch candidate | 71 | 84.5% |
| A branch of the first result | 13 | 15.5% |
13 of these 84 candidate rows were branches. A branch can have its own registration record and 18-character code. Confirm the contracting party and signer’s stated basis; a code match alone does not settle either question.
- State Council — Regulation on market entity registrationOfficial regulation listing the legal representative’s name among general registration matters.
- SAMR — Detailed rules for implementing market-entity registrationOfficial detailed rules listing the legal representative’s name among company registration matters.