Hong Kong’s New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) saw a surge in applicants in March and has received a total of over 1,200 applications since it was launched last year, reinforcing the city's status as a pre-eminent international investment hub, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government department responsible for foreign direct investment said Sunday.
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) said it has received 1,257 applications under the program as of the end of April 2025, which are expected to bring in over HK$37 billion ($4.72 billion) in investments, adding that applications surged 440 percent in March compared to the previous month after the implementation of enhancement measures.
"Hong Kong possesses strong resilience and solid foundations, as demonstrated by the free flow of capital, a robust regulatory framework, and a deep pool of professional talent,” said Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Alpha Lau Hai-suen.
“These attributes offer global investors an unparalleled and stable environment for doing business and making investments.”
ALSO READ: HK to ease asset requirements in capital investment program
The New CIES aims to attract asset owners to settle in the city and explore its diverse investment opportunities through wealth allocation and management.
InvestHK said the Immigration Department has granted "Approval-in-Principle" to 911 applicants, allowing them to enter Hong Kong as visitors to complete their investments, while granting "Formal Approval" to 512 applicants who have completed investments.
The amounts of verified investment applications that have met the program’s requirements include HK$6 billion that went into Securities and Futures Commission-autorized funds, HK$4.63 billion to equities, HK$2.16 billion to debt securities, and HK$1.43 billion to Investment-linked assurance schemes (ILAS).
In March, the program implemented enhancement measures, including shortening the fulfillment period of Net Asset Requirement from two years to six months and allowing investment made through an eligible private company wholly owned by the applicant, creating synergy with the tax concession regime for family offices.
READ MORE: HK crowned world’s freest economy
"We are pleased to see the strong pipeline of applications following the enhancement measures introduced in March 2025, reflecting Hong Kong's enduring appeal as a global investment hub. The scheme is also creating new business opportunities for the industry,” said Elizabeth Chan, head of Hong Kong, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
"Hong Kong's dynamic economy, rule of law, and world-class financial infrastructure continue to offer the predictability and confidence that high-net-worth individuals look for when seeking long-term growth and stability."
David Chang, founding partner of MindWorks Capital, one of the fund managers appointed for the CIES IP, said there was renewed fund activity across the market as firms position to capture the opportunities unlocked by the program.
