.hk

.hk

Introduced	1990
TLD type	Country code top-level domain
Status	Active
Registry	Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Company Ltd.
Sponsor	Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Ltd.
Intended use	Entities connected with  Hong Kong
Actual use	Popular in Hong Kong
Registration restrictions	Second-level registrations open to all Generic '.hk' domain categories; Specific third-level registrations require identity documents depending on varying rules for each sector
Structure	Registrations permitted at Generic category of '.hk' and at Specific third level
Documents	Rules for .hk domains and subdomains
Dispute policies	Dispute resolution policy
Website	www.hkirc.hk/www.hkdnr.hk

.hk is the designated Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Hong Kong. The administration and assignment of '.hk' domain names are provided by Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC), a non-profit making, non-statutory, member-based organisation designated by the Government of Hong Kong.

From its inception in 1990 until 2002, the domain was administered by the Joint University Computer Centre.^[1] In 2002, through a "Memorandum of Understanding" with the Hong Kong government, HKIRC took over the administration of '.hk',^[2] while the Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Corporation Limited (HKDNR), its wholly-owned subsidiary of HKIRC, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the registration service.^[3]

'.hk' domain names can be registered at both the second and third level. The easy-to-remember Generic '.hk' domain names (e.g.www.myname.hk) and Specific third-level domain names for various community sectors.

Both English and Chinese characters are allowed. The following are the categories of third-level domains available. Each category has both an English and Chinese suffix to choose from:

.com.hk / 公司.hk - commercial entities

.edu.hk / 教育.hk - educational institutions

.gov.hk / 政府.hk - government departments

.idv.hk / 個人.hk - HKID cardholders aged 11 or above

.net.hk / 網絡.hk - network service providers

.org.hk / 組織.hk - non-profit organisations

See also

• Communications in Hong Kong
• Telecommunications industry in Hong Kong

External links

• Joint University Computer Centre
• Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Company Limited
• root-zone whois information for .hk
• Requirements for .hk domain registration
• .HK Domain Registration and Information Service

References