Amid escalating geopolitical tensions and shifting international dynamics, Hong Kong is reinforcing its position as a premier safe harbor for global capital through its unique combination of institutional stability, growth potential, and technological advancement. The special administrative region’s appeal was prominently showcased during the fourth Wealth for Good Summit, which attracted approximately 400 family office decision-makers and successors from across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa.
Co-hosted by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau alongside Invest Hong Kong, the ‘Building Lasting Legacies’ themed summit facilitated cross-sector dialogues exploring innovative approaches to intergenerational wealth management, cultural legacy development, philanthropic initiatives, and technological innovation.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po emphasized Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages during the summit’s gala dinner, stating: ‘Families seeking to preserve their legacy look for a safe haven—not merely a place to park capital, but a environment offering institutional strengths, legal clarity and credible commitments.’
The data substantiates Hong Kong’s growing prominence: assets under management surged 13% annually to exceed $4.5 trillion in 2024—equivalent to 11 times the city’s GDP. This momentum persisted through 2025, with Hong Kong-domiciled funds recording robust net inflows of $45.8 billion. The city currently ranks as the world’s second-largest hub for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun highlighted the city’s fundamental attractions: ‘Our common law legal system, independent judiciary, open economy, free capital flow, freely convertible currency, straightforward tax regime, and dynamic financial market collectively create an ideal environment for global family offices.’
Significant regulatory enhancements are underway, with the SAR government preparing to expand preferential tax regimes for funds, family-owned investment holding vehicles, and carried interest by June. These reforms will grant family offices increased flexibility as qualifying investment vehicles expand to include private credit, precious metals, commodities, carbon credits, insurance-linked securities, and digital assets.
The government has additionally implemented tax incentives to encourage philanthropic activities, while maintaining the absence of estate duty, capital gains tax, or dividend taxes—features particularly appealing to family office managers.
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu affirmed: ‘Hong Kong offers the safe harbor, policy stability, and sophisticated ecosystem that ambitious families require to transform vision into lasting impact. We remain fully committed to strengthening this foundation to position Hong Kong as a nexus of legacies and innovation.’
The results are already materializing: Under Secretary Joseph Chan Ho-lim reported that over 20 family offices utilized InvestHK’s assistance to establish or expand their Hong Kong operations in January and February alone. As of February’s conclusion, InvestHK has facilitated 242 family offices in establishing or expanding their local presence—a 20% increase since September 2023. An additional 156 family offices are presently preparing or have committed to establishing operations in Hong Kong, with 60% originating from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, and the remainder from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions.
Chan further noted that established family offices can leverage Hong Kong’s efficient refinancing platform for share placements, bond issuances, and diverse business operations, thereby expanding market breadth and depth. The evolving family office ecosystem is maturing into a powerful network that connects various family offices with alternative or impact investing opportunities, enabling effective resource integration.