According to a 20-page proposal circulated this week and seen by the Financial Times, the Hong Kong government aims to create a “conducive environment” for asset managers by easing taxation policies, particularly on digital assets. “Taxation is one of the key considerations for asset managers when deciding where to base their operations,” the proposal stated.

The proposed tax exemptions would not only cover cryptocurrencies but also extend to private credit investments, overseas property, and carbon credits. The government is currently conducting a six-week consultation on the plans, signaling its commitment to attracting more capital investments from large funds and billionaires.

Competing for Global Capital

Hong Kong’s initiative comes amid intense competition with regional rivals Singapore and Switzerland, both of which have been vying to attract capital investments through lighter taxation policies. Singapore, however, has recently initiated a strict campaign against money laundering, leading to more stringent due diligence checks that have slowed the onboarding of new family offices.

Patrick Yip, vice chair and international tax partner at Deloitte China who specializes in family offices, commented on the proposal: “If implemented, the tax proposals could provide clarity to family offices and capital-intensive investors. This is an important step in boosting Hong Kong’s status as a financial and crypto trading hub.” Yip noted that some family offices in Hong Kong currently allocate up to 20% of their investment portfolios to digital assets, highlighting the significant interest in cryptocurrencies among the city’s wealthiest investors.

The tax exemption plans also reflect a potential shift in China’s approach to digital assets. In 2021, China’s central bank declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal, effectively banning digital assets like Bitcoin and blocking access for the country’s 1.41 billion people. However, recent developments suggest a more nuanced stance.

A Shanghai court ruling clarified that personal ownership of crypto assets is legal in China, even as regulations continue to ban commercial activities centered around digital assets to maintain financial stability and protect shareholders.

Global Context and the U.S. Influence

Globally, the United States has taken significant strides in embracing digital assets, especially after Donald Trump’s victory in the November 5th U.S. presidential elections.

His campaign endorsed cryptocurrencies and pledged to make the United States the global crypto hub. U.S. regulators have allowed companies to incorporate digital assets into their operations, paving the way for firms like MicroStrategy and Solidion to adopt cryptocurrencies as strategic reserve assets to boost shareholder value and hedge against inflation.

MicroStrategy, for instance, is the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with 386,700 Bitcoins at the time of this publication. Japan has also been a pioneer in Bitcoin adoption in Asia, allowing companies like Metaplanet to mimic MicroStrategy’s strategy.

By proposing these tax exemptions, Hong Kong aims to attract wealthy Chinese individuals who have been setting up private investment channels outside mainland China amid President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on displays of wealth. The city’s efforts to create a favorable tax environment could bolster its appeal to investors who might otherwise consider other jurisdictions.

Darren Bowdern, head of asset management tax for Asia at KPMG, noted that these changes are designed to put Hong Kong on par with financial hubs like Singapore or Luxembourg. “If implemented, there’s no risk of the fund being subject to tax,” he said.