A lively and inviting city that nurtures artistic growth is one of the attractions over its regional competitors, according to InvestHK Director General Alpha Lau.
Around 150 newly interested family offices, drawn by advancements in innovation and technology along with a burgeoning art market in Hong Kong, have shown their desire to establish themselves in the region. This is true even as geopolitical complexities and tensions arising from the sale of the Panama port by CK Hutchison Holdings persist. The investment head made this known.
Of the 150 offices, 80 are from mainland China and Taiwan, 30 from Europe, 20 from Asia and 20 from the United States and other places, according to InvestHK.
“Many of these wealthy families now consider options like sustainable investments, eco-friendly ventures, or technological projects,” stated Alpha Lau Hai-suen, the director-general of InvestHK, during an exclusive interview with the Post on Tuesday, just one day prior to the city’s hosting of the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit.
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Affluent families, particularly the offspring of these prominent households, showed interest in alternative asset classes such as artwork instead of conventional choices like bonds, noted Lau, who leads the office established to attract foreign direct investment and highlight the city’s potential.
She mentioned that there are growing investments being made in art forms like visual artworks.
Lau credited the growth to Hong Kong’s dynamic role as an arts and cultural center, along with numerous auction houses selecting the city as their Asian base.
The yearly private Wealth for Good summit held in Hong Kong attracted around 360 prominent decision-makers from global family offices, corporate leaders, and trailblazers in various industries. The event introduced a new segment centered on the swift advancements and implementations of artificial intelligence.
Currently, the city boasts over 2,700 family offices, with approximately half overseeing assets exceeding $50 million. During his inaugural policy speech in October 2022, the Chief Executive stated
John Lee Ka-chiu
set a target to bring in at least 200 major family offices by the close of 2025.
Following the announcement, approximately 160 major family offices received assistance in setting up or growing their presence within the city. Additionally, around 150 more family offices are currently contacting authorities or specialists like tax consultants to gather information regarding the processes needed for them to establish themselves in the area, as stated by Lau.
In addition to emerging markets, affluent families showed interest in concrete assets such as real estate, according to Lau.
A single family office, comparable in size to the Kho clan from the Philippines, inquired about real estate projects during a recent discussion with her, she mentioned.
“Not only did they plan to establish family offices in the city, but they also requested me to connect them with real estate agents,” Lau stated.
Last year, The Kho Group (TKG) declared their intention to establish a family office in Hong Kong. With over four decades of varied investment expertise across China and Southeast Asia, TKG’s portfolio encompasses natural resource provision, maritime activities, real estate development, premium retail ventures, and asset management services.
Lau mentioned that the count of new family offices showing interest in the city might exceed 150, since unlike some nations, Hong Kong does not require authorization from officials to establish such an office; thus, the precise figure remains unclear.
“Some family offices would rather see the government refrain from intervening,” she noted, mentioning that certain families could possess several offices located in different areas.
Although a financial authority from Singapore mentioned previously that around 600 new family offices emerged in the nation last year, numerous affluent people, especially those in their second generation, informed her that “Hong Kong offers much more excitement compared to Singapore,” she stated.
Lau mentioned that the dynamic way of life, the cuisine, and the city’s openness to individuals from every corner of the world shaped this viewpoint.
Although gaining residency in Hong Kong required a stay of seven years, Singapore took a more individualized approach, she explained.
Tina Cheng Tin-yan, the head of Midland Immigration Consultancy, informed the Post that several clients have transferred their family offices from Singapore to Hong Kong since last year. This move was primarily due to the wide range of investment options available in Hong Kong, including bonds and equities.
Aside from family offices, the improved initiatives under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, implemented in March, have led to approximately 30% more applications through her firm when compared to previous periods.
She mentioned that these clients plan to put money into the real estate market in the city, targeting apartments valued at HK$25 million to HK$40 million.
In an effort to draw both talent and investments totaling US$3.21 million last year, officials introduced the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES). This initiative encompasses various areas such as assets, equities, debt securities, and real estate.
The government improved the program by permitting high-net-worth individuals to be eligible through proof of owning at least HK$30 million worth of assets or equities acquired within the preceding six months, reducing the earlier requirement of two years.
From March 1 of last year until Tuesday, a total of 1,034 applications have been submitted, with 224 received in 2025 alone. This trend is anticipated to generate over HK$30 billion for Hong Kong.
Despite rising geopolitical strains between China and the US, which were exacerbated by the dispute surrounding CK Hutchison Holdings’ port sales in Panama, the applications proceeded.
Acknowledging the current geopolitical climate and the global surge in protectionist policies, Lau stated: “This trend started with Trump 1.0.”
She asked, ‘But isn’t this affecting everyone around the globe?’
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