By Gregory Sy由格雷戈里石荫

While domestic companies have a wide range of alternatives in establishing business operations in China, foreign companies are more restricted, with the most common business vehicles for foreign investors being: 而国内企业具有广泛的替代品在建立业务在中国的业务，外国公司更受限制，最常见的商用车辆，为外国投资者正在：

- Representative Offices -代表办事处
- Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises -外商独资企业
- Joint Ventures (Cooperative and Contractual) -合资（合作和合同）

1. Representative Offices 1 。代表处

General 一般
The fastest and easiest method for a foreign company to establish a presence or ‘footprint’ in China is through registration of a Representative Office of a foreign company. While this is true, there are certain factors that must be considered when deciding whether an RO is the appropriate structure:最快和最简单的方法，为一家外国公司建立一个存在或'足迹'在中国是通过登记设立代表办事处的外国公司，虽然这是事实，有一定的因素时，必须考虑决定是否反渗透是适当的结构：

i) ROs cannot conduct direct profit-making activities (cannot earn income) and may only serve a liaison function between head office and suppliers/distributors/customers in China; i ）在活性氧不能进行直接牟利活动（不能赚取收入）和可能只服务一个联络的功能之间的总办事处及供应商/分销商/在中国的客户;
ii) ROs do not have separate legal personality and may only contract or conduct business on behalf of head office;二）活性氧没有独立的法律人格，并可能只是合同或开展业务的名义总办事处;
iii) practically, ROs are limited with regards to business relations with Chinese companies who may prefer to deal with Mainland registered company;三）实际上，活性氧是有限的方面的业务关系与中国公司谁愿意来处理与内地注册的公司;
iv) taxes must still be paid (though there are no profits);四）税收仍必须支付的（虽然没有利润） ;
v) ROs, while simple to establish, are relatively more complex when closing.五）活性氧，而简单的建立，相对较为复杂时闭幕。

An RO is permitted to: 1反渗透是允许到：
- Conduct data collection and research on local market -进行数据收集和研究对本地市场
- Liaise with local contacts on behalf of parent company -保持联络，与当地的接触，就代表公司的母公司
- Coordinate parent companies activities in China such as contract negotiations -协调母子公司在中国的活动，如合同谈判
- Coordination of warranty and after-sales service -协调保修和售后服务
- Conduct services for parent company such as coordination of import, export, and distribution of products -进行服务公司的母公司，如协调进口，出口和分配产品

An RO is not permitted to: 1路是不容许到：
- Directly engage in business for profit -直接从事业务利润
- Sign contracts on its own behalf -签订合同，就以自己的名义，
- Represent entities other than the parent company -代表以外的其他实体公司的母公司，
- Collect money or issue invoices for products or services -收钱或问题发票的产品或服务

Representative offices are governed by the Procedures for the Registration and Administration of Resident Representative Offices of Foreign Enterprises in China and the Detailed Rules of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for the Implementation of the Provisional Regulations Governing the Examination, Approval and Administration of Representative Offices of Foreign Enterprises.代表办事处，是由程序，为登记和管理的居民代表办事处，外国企业在中国和细则外交部贸易和经济合作，为实施临时规例，规管考试，审批和管理代表办事处的外国企业。

Registration 注册
Unlike many other countries, Representative Offices in China are subject to registration requirements.不像许多其他国家一样，代表办事处，在中国受到的注册规定。 A filing must be made with the local Administration for Industry and Commerce, which, if successful, will issue an Approval Certificate for the Representative Office.备案必须作出与当地工商行政管理部门和商业，其中，如果成功的话，会发出批准证书，为代表处。 Thereafter, a number of filings with other authorities such as the Foreign Exchange Bureau, Public Security Bureau, Customs Bureau and Tax Bureau must be made.此后，一些文件与其他机构，如外汇局，公安局，海关局和国税局必须作出。 Registration is generally valid for only three years and application must be made prior to expiration for renewal of the term.注册是一般有效期为3年，只及应用必须作出到期前续期的任期。

It is important to note that in order to establish an RO in China, it is necessary to establish a physical office space (in cities such as Shanghai, only certain commercial buildings may be used to register ROs).这是很重要的注意，为了建立一个滚装在中国，这是要建立一个实际的办公室空间（在城市如上海，只有某些商业建筑物可能被用来登记活性氧） 。

This is the first part of the Grandall Legal Group article Business Vehicles, next week we will publish the second part.这是第一部份的grandall法律组文章营业车辆，下周我们将公布的第二部分。

Gregory M. Sy is a partner / foreign counsel with Grandall Legal Group. 格雷戈里米施是一个合作伙伴/外国律师与grandall法律组。 His practice includes general business advisory for SME’s in China, particularly in the areas of international corporate structuring and transactions. 他的实践，包括一般业务咨询，为中小企业的在中国，尤其是在以下领域的国际公司的结构和交易。 Representative clients include the Consulate of the United States of America in China (Shenyang), Embassy of Brazil, various publicly listed companies (NYSE, LSE, DAX, and BSE), along with numerous other SME’s operating in a wide range of industries. 代表客户包括领事馆美利坚合众国在中国（沉阳） ，驻华使馆，巴西，各种公开上市公司（纽约证券交易所，伦敦证券交易所，股市DAX ，疯牛病） ，连同其他许多中小企业的经营在广泛的产业。 Mr. Sy obtained an LL.B. SY先生获得法学士学位 from the University of Victoria, and is admitted to the New York bar. 从维多利亚大学，并承认设在纽约的酒吧。 Gregory publishes extensively on a variety of China legal issues for international and local publications, and has recently acted as chief editor for Martindale’s China Law Digest. 格雷戈里发表了广泛的各种各样的中国法律问题的国际和当地出版物，并于最近担任总编辑，为马丁代尔的中国法学会消化。 You can contact Gregory at 你可以联络格雷戈里在 gregsy@grandall.com.cn gregsy@grandall.com.cn or learn more about the firm at 或了解更多有关该公司在 www.grandall-profile.com www.grandall - profile.com . 。