Chinese property conglomerate Evergrande Group says its application to a US court does not involve a bankruptcy petition.

The embattled property developer reportedly filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection with a New York federal court on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Friday, the company said that its US dollar-denominated notes are governed by New York Law and that its application is a normal procedure for offshore debt restructuring, and does not involve a bankruptcy petition.

Evergrande Group is believed to have relocated its head office functions from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen to the city of Guangzhou, north of Shenzhen, apparently for cost-cutting and other purposes.

An NHK crew says they saw more than a dozen police officers guarding what's believed to be Evergrande's new headquarters. The building is surrounded by iron fences.

Officials from local governments are said to have been sent to the office and access to it appears to be restricted.