Hong Kong — FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does CIES give a passport?
No. CIES grants residence. A Hong Kong permanent identity card, and later an HKSAR passport, require seven years of continuous ordinary residence — genuinely living there — not just holding the investment visa.
Can I use residential property for the investment?
No. Residential property is not a permissible asset. Only financial assets and non-residential real estate qualify, and real estate counts toward at most HKD 10 million of the HKD 30 million.
Will Hong Kong tax my foreign income?
Generally no. Hong Kong is strictly territorial and taxes only Hong Kong-source income, with salaries tax capped at 17% and no capital gains tax. It does not remove obligations to a country that taxes on citizenship, such as the United States.