On February 26, Hong Kong's "Financial Secretary" Paul Chan released the 2025 Budget. The cover of this budget is based on lake blue, representing the unlimited opportunities for Hong Kong's future development.

The following is a selection of several contents closely related to talents and investors going to Hong Kong for detailed development.

01

Tax reduction measures

㈠ Reduce profits tax, salaries tax and personal income tax for the 2024/25 tax year, with the maximum reduction of HK$1,500 per case.

This measure is expected to benefit 2.14 million salary tax and personal income tax taxpayers, as well as 165,400 companies.

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㈡ The upper limit of the property value subject to a stamp duty of HK$100 will be raised from HK$3 million to HK$4 million. The new standard applies to residential and non-residential property sales contracts signed on or after February 26, 2025.

This move will reduce the financial pressure on those who buy low- and medium-priced residential and non-residential properties, and it is estimated that about 15% of property transactions will benefit from it.

In addition, in the first quarter of 2025/26, rates for residential and non-residential properties will be reduced, with a maximum reduction of HK$500.

02

New measures to support SMEs

In order to further enhance the competitiveness and resilience of SMEs, the government has launched a series of special support programs.

1. Inject a total of HK$1.5 billion into the "BUD Special Fund" and the "Marketing and Industrial and Commercial Institutions Support Fund", and optimize the application process to help companies enhance their brand image and expand overseas markets;

2. The "interest-only" period of the "SME Financing Guarantee Scheme" is extended to November 2025 to ensure the stability of corporate cash flow and support their operations and transformation and upgrading.

㈢The amount of financing reserved for SMEs by participating banks of the "SME Financing Task Force" has increased to more than HK$390 billion;

㈣ The Hong Kong Trade Development Council launched the "E-commerce Express" to provide consulting services to Hong Kong businessmen and held the second "Hong Kong Good Products Festival".

03

Continue to attract talents and funds

Optimize investment immigration again

In the budget, the Hong Kong government proposed a number of measures to attract and cultivate top talents.

This year, the Hong Kong government will continue to compete for talents, including actively recruiting top and leading figures to Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

At the same time, the talent import scheme and employment regulations of the Mainland will be optimized to allow more young non-degree talents with professional skills and experience to enter Hong Kong to fill the vacancies of technical jobs with labor shortages.

Regarding the new capital investor admission scheme restarted in March last year, more than 880 applications have been received so far, and it is expected to attract more than HK$26 billion in investment to Hong Kong. Chan Mo-po revealed that a series of optimization measures will be implemented to enhance the flexibility and attractiveness of the scheme.

At the same time, the Hong Kong Talent Services Office plans to hold the second "Hong Kong Global Talent Summit" early next year to consolidate Hong Kong's role as a gathering place for international high-end talents. And through the establishment of the "Belt and Road Scholarship", it attracts students from many countries to study in Hong Kong.

04

Increase application fees and visa fees

From February 26, 2025, various talent introduction programs and capital investor entry programs:

㈠ Charge an application fee of 600 yuan

㈡ According to the length of stay, the visa fee will be increased to 600 yuan (stay period of 180 days or less) or 1,300 yuan (stay period of 181 days or more).

The fee increase is due to the surge in the number of people applying for Hong Kong identity, from 58,000 in 2022 to more than 221,000 in 2023, and it is expected to reach 208,000 in 2024, and the demand for administrative resources has increased significantly.

In addition, the budget also covers many areas such as social welfare, upgrading of advantageous industries, education support and caring and inclusion, demonstrating Hong Kong's firm belief in future development.

If you are interested in applying for Hong Kong identity, seizing the opportunity of Hong Kong's booming development, and enjoying its high-quality social welfare, please contact Xingyunhai International. We will provide you with a tailor-made exclusive plan.