Buildings Department registers search: AP, RI, RSE, RGE

The Buildings Department’s Registered Professionals or Contractors search is the official place to check whether a person or contractor is on one of the registers kept by the Building Authority under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123). Those registers cover Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers, Registered Geotechnical Engineers, Registered Inspectors and three kinds of registered contractor. The one thing to get right is the register: pick the one that matches the role you were told about, then search.

What the registers are

The Building Authority keeps separate registers of Authorized Persons (AP), Registered Structural Engineers (RSE), Registered Geotechnical Engineers (RGE), Registered Inspectors (RI), Registered General Building Contractors (RGBC), Registered Specialist Contractors (RSC) and Registered Minor Works Contractors (RMWC). Each is for persons qualified to perform their respective statutory duties under the Buildings Ordinance. The Department’s registration guides explain how each register is joined.

Being on one register does not put anyone on another. The Buildings Department says, for example, that a Registered Inspector may be an Authorized Person or a Registered Structural Engineer, but only if their name is on the Inspectors’ Register as well.

Which register to choose

For an architect, the relevant lists are AP(A) and RI(A). Our guides to the Authorized Person (Architect) and the Registered Inspector and MBIS explain those two roles.

How to search, step by step

1. Write down exactly what you were told: the person’s or contractor’s name and the role they claim, such as “AP (Architect)” or “Registered Inspector”.
2. Open the Registered Professionals or Contractors search.
3. Choose the register type that matches the role. An Authorized Person who is an architect is on AP(A). A Registered Inspector who is a surveyor is on RI(S).
4. Enter the name or other details the form asks for. If nothing comes back, try other spellings of the English name, and confirm with the person which list they are on.
5. Compare the result with what you were told, field by field, and note the registration details the search shows, including any dates.
6. Repeat for each role. If one person is acting as both Authorized Person and Registered Inspector, they need an entry on each register.
7. Keep a dated screenshot or note with your project records.

Contractors

Contractors sit on their own three registers: RGBC, RSC and RMWC. Check the contractor on the register that matches the work they are offering, separately from the Authorized Person or Registered Inspector on the same job. Our guide to registered contractors on the Buildings Department lists goes further.

Other Buildings Department look-ups

• Qualified persons search. The Department runs a separate qualified persons search. Its window inspection pages refer to qualified persons and registered contractors. See our guide to the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme.
• Minor works. Start from the Department’s page Who can carry out minor works?
• Joining a register. If you are a professional applying, see the Department’s building professionals page and its registration FAQ.

What this search does not answer

• The title “architect”. That is governed by the Architects Registration Ordinance (Cap. 408). Check the ARB Register.
• HKIA status. Check the HKIA Registered Practices list for a firm.
• Fees and quality. No register covers them. Ask for a written fee proposal and scope of service.

Our architecture directory lists practices from their own websites. We note Authorized Person or Registered Inspector work only when the firm says so, so check the named person here before you appoint. ranked.hk is not the Buildings Department, and this guide is not legal advice.