The registry for .HK (Hong Kong) was introducing internationalised domain names with plans to introduce the Chinese version of the .HK country code and allowing all registrants with an existing .HK domain name to get the IDN version for free.

The Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation, the .HK registry, had applied to ICANN to introduce the Chinese character version, and succeeded, with offer a buy one, get the other free with registrants receiving both versions of the domain name.

Since 2007 registrants of .HK domain names had been able to register all but the .HK part of the domain name in Chinese characters, and should ICANN grant HKIRC the Chinese character version of the .HK ccTLD it meant registrants could have complete domain names in Chinese characters.