MANILA, Philippines — Hong Kong’s New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)—a residency pathway designed for high-net-worth individuals seeking both financial advantages and a world-class place to live – has attracted talent from around the world since its launch two years ago.
Geographical location has always been Hong Kong’s core strengths. From the city, major Asian cities—Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, and Shanghai—are within about four hours’ flight. Half of the world's population can be reached within five-hours of flight. Manila and Cebu are just slightly over two hours by air. For globally active investors, this mobility is not theoretical; it is operational.
When asked where he chose to base himself and his headquarter, the Malaysian entrepreneur Song Hoi-see, the Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group(PPG), said.
“I can confidently say that Hong Kong is the land of opportunities. In addition to being a strategic location and a hub for regional and global business, Hong Kong offers excellent business infrastructure, transparency, and efficient processes, all of which attracted me to establish PPG’s headquarters in the city. Hong Kong is also the gateway to Chinese Mainland. What a potential market with a population of 1.4 billion! Why would I not choose Hong Kong as my headquarter?”
That growing role is reshaping how investors think about their Asia strategy. Firms based in Hong Kong enjoy access to Chinese Mainland’s scale while remaining fully plugged into Southeast Asia’s fast-expanding markets—a combination few cities can match.
Relocating to a new city makes the support of professionals immensely important. Hong Kong attracts and possesses top talents across various fields, from financial experts to legal professionals and educators, providing comprehensive support for family development. The city is home to over 267,000 financial professionals and 70 of the world’s top 100 banks operate here. The Philippine National Bank also has a branch in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s multilingual workforce supports banking, tax, legal, and trust services at an international top level. According to the World Talent Ranking 2025 published by the International Institute for Management Development, Hong Kong ranks first in Asia.
Founder of ADLEGACY, the grandson of Adidas founder, Horst Bente, said, "Hong Kong has always been a special place for our family. The expansion of the company in the 1960s and 1970s to Asia came through Hong Kong. My parents and I were here when I was a little boy, so we've spent a lot of time in this city. To me, Hong Kong has always been the gateway to Asia. Investors are here, money is here, and obviously the talent is here.”
Additionally, the presence of such professionals fosters an environment that accelerates children's growth, enabling them to learn, practice, and receive premier international training in a nurturing setting. This ultimately benefits their future career planning.
For many investors, the appeal of Hong Kong extends beyond business considerations. The city’s international character, education system and access to nature make it uniquely livable for families.
Hong Kong has 54 international schools and 22 degree-awarding institutions. At the tertiary level, Hong Kong is unmatched in Asia, with eight universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings, five of which are in the global top 100—the highest concentration of top-tier institutions worldwide. Notably, according to the newly released 2026 QS Asia University Rankings, the University of Hong Kong ranks first in Asia. This makes it a strong choice for families prioritizing academic excellence.
Access to nature and world-class healthcare adds to the appeal. From island hikes to cultural landmarks like M+ and Tai Kwun, Hong Kong balances urban efficiency with a high quality of life. Whether investing in a second home or planning long-term residency, families find that the city delivers both livability and legacy value.
Many investors are now looking to Hong Kong as more than just a financial hub—they’re seeing it as a place to plant roots.
Through the New CIES, investors can secure residency by placing HK$30 million into Hong Kong’s economy. The program is designed to offer both flexibility in investment options and a clear pathway to permanent residency.
Under the programme, high-net-worth applicants are required to invest a total of HK$30 million, with HK$27 million allocated to permissible investments. The remaining HK$3 million will be directed into the CIES Investment Portfolio, which supports the long-term development of Hong Kong’s economy and society.
The scheme allows for a wide range of permissible investments, including equities, bonds, certificates of deposit, subordinated debt, eligible collective investment schemes, ownership interests in limited partnership funds, as well as non-residential and residential real estate (with certain kinds of investments subject to relevant caps).
Applicants who maintain their investments in the program and meet ordinary residence requirements may eventually apply for permanent residency.
Further enhanced in March 2025, the scheme introduced added flexibility for applicants with family offices, allowing investments held through a family-owned investment holding vehicle, or a family-owned special purpose entity, to be counted as eligible investments.
This aligns with Hong Kong’s expanding tax concessions for family offices, expected to attract more sophisticated wealth management structures to the city.
Sanjay Kothari, vice chairman of the KGK Group, moved to Hong Kong in 1990 and started expanding the sales and marketing of diamonds for the KGK group. In 2004, the group launched the fine jewellery brand in Hong Kong.
“I value Hong Kong’s dynamic environment, which has supported both business expansion and family life. The city’s ability to continuously evolve, particularly through its focus on innovation and its integration with the Greater Bay Area, keeps it at the forefront of global development,” he enthuses.
As the New CIES begins to take root, Hong Kong is positioning itself not just as a financial center, but as a place where global families can preserve their heritage, grow capital, and shape future generations.
Editor's Note: This #BrandSpace story is produced by the Advertising Content Team that is independent of our Editorial newsroom.
Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
Signup for the News Round now