Govt announces details of enhancement measures for New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme

The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address announced enhancements to the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) to further strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international asset and wealth management center. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and Invest Hong Kong today (Jan. 7) announced the details of various enhancement measures for the New CIES, which will take effect from March 1, 2025.

Details of the enhancement measures and the status of applications under the New CIES are set out below:

1. Enhancement measures with effect from March 1, 2025

(a) Fulfilment of net asset requirement (NAR)

(i) An applicant under the New CIES is only required to demonstrate that he/she has net assets or net equity to which he/she is absolutely beneficially entitled with a market value of not less than HK$30 million net throughout six months (two years before the enhancement) preceding the application; and

(ii) Net assets or net equity jointly owned with the applicant's family member(s) can now be taken into consideration for the calculation of the NAR for the respective portion which is absolutely beneficially entitled to the applicant.

(b) Holding permissible investment assets through a Family-owned Investment Holding Vehicle (FIHV) or a Family-owned Special Purpose Entity (FSPE) under an FIHV

Investments made through an eligible private company wholly owned by an applicant will be counted towards the applicant's eligible investment in the New CIES.

An eligible private company refers to a holding company incorporated or registered in Hong Kong which is wholly owned by an applicant in the form of an FIHV or an FSPE under an FIHV managed by an eligible single family office as defined in Section 2 of Schedule 16E to the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). The enhancement will create synergy between the New CIES and the establishment of family offices in Hong Kong.

2. Facts and figures under the New CIES in the first 10 months

The New CIES was launched on March 1, 2024. Key numbers for the first 10 months are as follows:

For the new scheme rules which will be effective on March 1, 2025, please visit www.newcies.gov.hk/en/resources/scheme-rules-and-documents/.

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