COUNTRY
HONG-KONG
REGION
Asia
POPULATION
7,263,234 (July 2021 est.)
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is a part of the Pearl River Delta region, one of the leading economic regions of China with a high population density. The region also includes Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Macau, Shenzhen, and Zhongshan. Hong Kong as Asia’s premier international city is a world-class destination. Every year millions of travelers visit Hong Kong for business and leisure.
WIFI SPEED
Average connection speed (Mbit/s) – 23.7
Broadband average connection speed (Mbit/s)- 240.83
Median 5G connection speed (Mbit/s)- 27.60
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
The standard electrical voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Most hotel bathrooms also have outlets for 100 volts, but if not, you will need a transformer for any appliance or electrical equipment.
PER CAPITA GDP
$59,848 (2019 est.)
$61,064 (2018 est.)
$59,849 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
CLIMATE
subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
RESIDENCE-BY-INVESTMENT
Hong Kong does not have a citizenship by investment program it does offer various routes to residency for talent, professionals, and entrepreneurs. A Permanent Residency Visa can be granted after 7 years of residency in Hong Kong and citizenship can be applied for after 10 years.
The primary options available for unsponsored business-related immigration are the:
- Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs (EFIE)
- Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS).
The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) was suspended in 15 January 2015 although prior successful applicants can still apply for extensions of stay. Non-local students (foreigners who have entered Hong Kong on student visas for the purpose of education) who have obtained an undergraduate or a higher qualification from a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong can apply to stay/return to work in Hong Kong without employment sponsorship for 12 months under the “Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates” (IANG) programme.
Investments
Applicants must complete a points-based test under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme: The QMAS is an admission scheme with an annual quota to attract highly skilled or talented people to settle in Hong Kong without the need for employer sponsorship.
The scheme is open to all applicants except to nationals from countries which the HKSAR government believes pose security or immigration risks, including:
- Afghanistan.
- Cuba.
- Laos.
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
- Nepal.
- Vietnam.
Key Benefits
- Eligible to apply for permanent residence after seven years
- The favorable taxation system for individuals and businesses
Processing time
- 4- 8 months
NATURAL RESOURCES
outstanding deep-water harbor, feldspar
ETHNIC GROUPS
Chinese 92%, Filipino 2.5%, Indonesian 2.1%, other 3.4% (2016 est.)
LANGUAGES
Cantonese (official) 88.9%, English (official) 4.3%, Mandarin (official) 1.9%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 1.9% (2016 est.)
RELIGIONS
Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3% (2016 est.)
Note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation
MEDIAN AGE
total: 45.6 years
male: 44.2 years
female: 46.5 years (2020 est.)
URBANIZATION
urban population: 100 % of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
PHYSICIAN DENSITY
2 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
GOVERNMENT TYPE
presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
2.93% (2019 est.)
2,83% (2018 est.)
TAXES
Hong Kong has a territorial tax system. This means that in general a business vehicle is charged to profits tax if both of the following conditions are met:
- It carries on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong.
- It has profits which arise in or are derived from such trade, profession or business carried on in Hong Kong (i.e. Hong Kong source).
Whether profits are Hong Kong-sourced is a practical matter of looking what the taxpayer has done to earn its profits and where it has done it, discounting antecedent or incidental matters. However, the case law governing the source of profits is complex and at times inconsistent. Therefore, each case will turn on its own facts.
Certain receipts are deemed to be chargeable to profits tax irrespective of their source. There is no general income tax on corporations or unincorporated businesses in Hong Kong. Partnerships and trustees are charged to profits tax on essentially the same basis as corporations and individuals.
Personal Income Tax Rate (highest marginal tax rate) – Above 200,000HKD 17%
Corporate Income Tax Rate (excluding dividend taxes) – 16.5% – Assessable profits of corporations are taxed at the corporate tax rate of 16.5%. There are some tax incentives for special business operations, such as tax exemption for profits derived by offshore funds and profits derived from operating ships in Hong Kong.
Generally, the rate of profits tax is 16.5% for corporations and 15% for other taxpayers. This is charged on Hong Kong-sourced profits from a trade, profession or business carried on in Hong Kong, or sums that are deemed chargeable to profits tax by operation of statute. Capital gains are generally not taxable. Hong Kong has a two-tiered tax rate, which, subject to certain conditions, provides for reduced rates of profits tax on the first HKD2 million of taxable profits, currently set at 8.25% for corporations and 7.5% for other taxpayers. Broadly speaking, only one company in a corporate group can avail itself of the two-tiered profits tax rate. Concessionary tax rates are available for certain industries, such as aircraft leasing and corporate treasury centres resident in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has comprehensive double tax treaties with Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland , France, Guernsey, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao (not yet in force), Mainland China, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the UAE, the UK and Vietnam.
Apart from in certain narrow sectors (for example, broadcasting), 100% foreign ownership of a company is generally permitted, and there is no requirement as regards the nationality (or place of incorporation for corporations) of the shareholder. There are no restrictions on foreign shareholders (for example, there is no requirement that a shareholder be resident in Hong Kong) except in certain narrow circumstances.
Additional buyer’s stamp duties have been imposed on purchasers of real estate in Hong Kong where such purchasers are not individual Hong Kong permanent residents.
