In recent years, the number of applicants has been continuously increasing. In 2013, a total of 8,908 applicants from mainland China applied for Hong Kong investment immigration, setting a new historical high. In 2014, with the launch of the "Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect" and the stable attractiveness of Hong Kong's financial market, nearly half of the mainland wealthy individuals have chosen Hong Kong as their preferred destination for investment and settlement. The enthusiasm for settlement applications in Hong Kong among mainland residents has surged. According to data from the Hong Kong Immigration Department, as of September 2014, the total number of Hong Kong investment immigration applications has exceeded 40,000, with 90% coming from the mainland. The number of applicants has increased dramatically.
The strictness of application approvals has increased: In terms of the speed of immigration application approvals, Hong Kong investment immigration is currently slower compared to the past. Previously, approvals could be obtained in about six months, but now it takes more than a year. Experts explain that the slowdown in approval speed may be due to the accumulation of application cases.
The stagnation of the "dual market" in the mainland has stimulated the Hong Kong investment market. With the real estate and stock markets in the mainland both stagnating and a large amount of capital facing difficulties in circulation, many mainland individuals have chosen overseas investment. Due to the cultural similarities between Hong Kong and the mainland, as well as a relatively free financial and legal system, Hong Kong remains a popular choice for mainland individuals seeking investment immigration.
In the past ten years, investment immigration has become a major source of investment in Hong Kong's financial market. The Hong Kong government may restrict immigration investment categories in the future to support the development of the local bond market: On February 26, 2014, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, John Tsang, announced the budget for 2014, mentioning that the development of the financial market should lean towards bonds. Compared to the mainland, Hong Kong has a more mature and stable financial market, allowing clients to fully utilize the Hong Kong financial market for reasonable asset planning, diversifying investments, and mitigating risks, thus gaining benefits beyond immigration. Among investors rushing to catch the last train for investment settlement in Hong Kong, capital preservation and yield financial products have been favored by many investors, as they do not have to bear investment risks to obtain Hong Kong permanent residency.
It is particularly noteworthy that from the perspective of immigrants, the appeal of Hong Kong investment immigration remains strong and is in an upward phase, making it attractive to potential immigrants from around the world. From the government's perspective, the influx of a large number of immigrants will inevitably bring various social management pressures, and once it reaches a certain stage, corresponding measures will be implemented for administrative control. For example, the well-known sudden change in Hong Kong's investment immigration policy in October 2010 took effect immediately after its announcement, with no buffer period. The investment amount increased from HKD 6.5 million to HKD 10 million, and the option to invest in real estate was eliminated, which was closely related to feedback from citizens at that time.
This year, "price increases" and "policy changes" have become the "main theme" of the investment immigration industry. After Canada closed its doors, the long-rumored price increase news for the UK investment immigration and Hungarian government bond immigration has been confirmed. The lessons from the past suggest that rumors of policy changes in Hong Kong investment immigration may no longer be unfounded alarmism. The possibility of the Hong Kong government adjusting the current "Capital Investment Entrant Scheme" has further increased, which will significantly raise the costs of Hong Kong investment immigration; as the release date of the Hong Kong Policy Address approaches, WorldWay reminds investors interested in immigrating to Hong Kong to prioritize their immigration plans and seize the opportunity to avoid policy change risks.
