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Legal insight for Hong Kong business.

Practical guidance on digital assets, funds, private wealth and corporate law.

Cryptocurrency exchange licensing in Hong Kong

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Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

CARF in Hong Kong: What the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework Means from 2027

Hong Kong's CARF starts 1 January 2027, first exchange 2028 - who must report, what's reported, penalties, and a readiness plan for crypto firms and holders.

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Guides & playbooks

The guide

The Hong Kong Business Guide

From incorporation to exit — a founder's complete legal reference for building in Hong Kong.

Multi-chapter guide · Read the guide →

Coming soon

The playbook

RWA Tokenisation Playbook

VASP licensing, token structures and SFC compliance for tokenising real-world assets.

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Latest insights

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Investment Funds

The 2026 Funds, FIHV and Carried Interest Bill: What It Gives and What It Takes Away

Hong Kong's 2026 Bill rewrites the Unified Fund Exemption, carried interest and FIHV regimes. What it relaxes, the new substance and reporting duties, and the caps most notes get wrong.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Using Hong Kong as a Settlement Centre: Source, Substance and the Offshore Profits Claim

How the IRD tests a Hong Kong settlement or re-invoicing entity: source of profits, the offshore claim, substance, transfer pricing and FSIE.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

CARF in Hong Kong: What the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework Means from 2027

Hong Kong's CARF starts 1 January 2027, first exchange 2028 - who must report, what's reported, penalties, and a readiness plan for crypto firms and holders.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Hong Kong Crypto Licence Requirements: Who Needs What

Which Hong Kong crypto licence you need, current to August 2026: VATP, stablecoin issuer, SFC Type 1/4/9, and the four new regimes arriving with no deeming period.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Listing on HKEX: Main Board Requirements and the IPO Process

Main Board listing on HKEX with the actual numbers: the three financial tests, the reformed public float tiers, Chapter 18A and 18C routes, GEM, and the IPO process.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Company Secretary Duties in Hong Kong: An Employer's Guide

Company secretary duties in Hong Kong with the real figures: annual return deadlines and late fees, filing deadlines, SCR obligations, TCSP licensing and penalties.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

MPF Obligations for Hong Kong Employers: Rates, Deadlines and Penalties

MPF obligations for Hong Kong employers: current contribution levels, the 1 May 2025 abolition of offsetting, the eMPF Platform, penalties, and where employers go wrong.

Single-family office

Technology Regulation & Cybersecurity

Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Law: A 2026 Compliance Guide and Checklist

Hong Kong's Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance is in force from 1 January 2026 — who's caught, the key duties, and a practical checklist.

Single-family office

AI & Agentic Economy

AI Governance in Hong Kong: A 2026 Compliance Checklist for Businesses

AI governance in Hong Kong, updated for 2026: the PCPD's agentic AI alert, the HKMA and SFC AI cyber circulars, and a 14-point compliance checklist.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

PDPO Compliance Guidance for Hong Kong Startups

Practical PDPO compliance guidance for Hong Kong startups: privacy notices, consent forms, direct marketing, breach response, plus a founder checklist.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Stored Value Facilities and Digital Banking in Hong Kong – HKMA Licensing Guide

Hong Kong SVF licensing guide — who needs an HKMA licence, application requirements, capital and float protection, AML compliance, and the virtual banking framework explained.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Cross-Border Data Transfers from Hong Kong – A Legal Compliance Guide

Cross-border data transfers under Hong Kong’s PDPO — Section 33, PCPD model clauses, six data protection principles, and practical compliance steps for regional businesses.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Convertible Notes and SAFE Agreements for Hong Kong Startups – Legal Guide

Convertible notes and SAFEs for HK startups — valuation caps, discounts, stamp duty, cap table dilution, and key negotiation points for founders and early-stage investors.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Token Launches and ICOs in Hong Kong: Legal and Regulatory Framework

A comprehensive guide to the legal and regulatory framework for token launches, initial coin offerings (ICOs), and token generating events in Hong Kong, covering the SFC's approach to securities analysis, utility tokens, compliance requirements, and best practices.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Regulatory Sandbox Programmes in Hong Kong: FinTech and Virtual Asset Innovation

A guide to Hong Kong's regulatory sandbox programmes for fintech and virtual asset innovators, covering the HKMA Fintech Supervisory Sandbox, SFC Regulatory Sandbox, and IA Insurtech Sandbox, including eligibility, application procedures, and practical guidance.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Cryptocurrency Exchange Licensing in Hong Kong: The VASP Regime Explained

A comprehensive guide to the mandatory licensing regime for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in Hong Kong, covering SFC requirements, eligibility criteria, compliance obligations, and the transition framework for existing cryptocurrency exchanges.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Private Placement Memorandums and Fund Offering Documents in Hong Kong: A Practical Guide

Understand the legal requirements and best practices for drafting private placement memorandums (PPMs) and fund offering documents for investment funds in Hong Kong, including SFC regulatory considerations and key disclosure obligations.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Hedge Fund Regulation in Hong Kong: SFC Requirements and Compliance Guide

A comprehensive guide to hedge fund regulation in Hong Kong, covering SFC Type 9 licensing for fund managers, the SFC Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds for retail-authorised funds, risk management requirements, short-selling rules, and ongoing compliance obligations.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Legal Framework and Enforceability in Hong Kong

A practical guide to the legal treatment of blockchain technology and smart contracts under Hong Kong law, covering contract formation and validity, liability for code errors, regulatory considerations, and key issues for businesses deploying blockchain solutions.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Private Credit Funds in Hong Kong: Legal Framework and Structuring Guide

A comprehensive guide to structuring, licensing, and operating private credit funds in Hong Kong, covering fund vehicles, SFC authorisation, investor eligibility, and key documentation.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Open-Ended Fund Companies (OFC) in Hong Kong: A Complete Guide for Fund Managers

A comprehensive guide to the Open-Ended Fund Company (OFC) structure in Hong Kong, covering the legal framework, SFC requirements, variable capital features, sub-fund structures, use cases compared to Cayman funds, re-domiciliation, and tax treatment.

Single-family office

Private Wealth & Trusts

Hong Kong as a Global Family Office Hub: Why UHNW Families Are Choosing Hong Kong

An in-depth guide to why ultra-high-net-worth families are establishing family offices in Hong Kong, covering the FIHV tax regime, regulatory advantages, proximity to mainland China wealth, and how Hong Kong compares to Singapore as a family office destination.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Real World Asset (RWA) Tokenisation in Hong Kong: Legal Framework and Regulatory Considerations

A detailed guide to the legal and regulatory framework for real world asset (RWA) tokenisation in Hong Kong, covering SFC circulars, Project Ensemble, structuring options, security token treatment, and compliance requirements.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Hong Kong Data Privacy Law: A Business Guide to PDPO Compliance

A practical guide to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO) for businesses operating in Hong Kong, covering data protection principles, PICS requirements, cross-border transfers, PCPD enforcement, and compliance best practices.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

SFC Licensing in Hong Kong: A Guide for Asset Managers, Investment Advisers, and Fund Distributors

A practical guide to SFC licensing in Hong Kong for asset managers, investment advisers, and fund distributors, covering Type 1, 4, and 9 regulated activities, fit and proper requirements, and ongoing obligations.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Shareholders' Agreements in Hong Kong: Key Provisions Every Founder and Investor Should Know

A practical guide to shareholders' agreements in Hong Kong, covering pre-emption rights, drag-along and tag-along clauses, deadlock provisions, exit mechanisms, and drafting best practices for founders and investors.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Employment Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong: Labour Tribunal, Minor Employment Claims & Beyond

A comprehensive guide to resolving employment disputes in Hong Kong, covering the Labour Tribunal, Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board, work injury claims, and strategic options for employers and employees.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Intellectual Property Protection in Hong Kong: Trademarks, Patents, and Copyright

A guide to intellectual property protection in Hong Kong: trademark registration, patent types, copyright law, registered designs, cross-border IP strategy, and enforcement remedies.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Security Token Offerings in Hong Kong: A Legal and Regulatory Guide

A legal and regulatory guide to Security Token Offerings (STOs) in Hong Kong: SFC framework, security token classification, prospectus requirements, intermediary licensing, tokenised bonds and funds, and practical compliance checklist.

Single-family office

Private Wealth & Trusts

Hong Kong Family Office Tax Incentives: The FIHV Regime Explained

A detailed guide to the Hong Kong Family-owned Investment Holding Vehicle (FIHV) profits tax exemption: eligibility criteria, qualifying transactions, substance requirements, the SFO manager exemption, and comparison with Singapore's family office schemes.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Fund Structures in Hong Kong: LPF, OFC, and Unit Trust Compared

A comparison of Hong Kong's three main onshore fund structures: Unit Trust, Open-ended Fund Company (OFC), and Limited Partnership Fund (LPF). Key features, regulatory requirements, tax treatment, and guidance on choosing the right structure.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

DeFi in Hong Kong: Legal and Regulatory Considerations

A guide to the legal and regulatory considerations for decentralised finance (DeFi) in Hong Kong: SFC's approach, smart contract enforceability, DAO legal status, AML/CFT risks, and tax treatment.

Single-family office

Private Wealth & Trusts

Family Governance and Business Succession in Hong Kong: A Legal Guide

Family governance for Hong Kong family businesses: family constitution, family council, board structure, succession planning, holding structures, trust vehicles, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Formation in Hong Kong

How to form a private equity or venture capital fund in Hong Kong: LPF vs Cayman structures, SFC licensing, LP agreement key terms, carried interest, LPAC, and launch considerations.

Single-family office

Corporate & Commercial

Minority Shareholder Rights in Hong Kong Companies

Protecting minority shareholders in Hong Kong companies: statutory rights, unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up, derivative actions, and practical remedies.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

Setting Up a Hedge Fund in Hong Kong: Structure, Licensing, and Launch

How to launch a hedge fund in Hong Kong: fund structure options, SFC Type 9 licensing, offering memorandum, prime brokerage, fund administration, and first-year compliance obligations.

Single-family office

Investment Funds

AML Compliance for Fund Managers and Investment Managers in Hong Kong

AML/CFT obligations for SFC-licensed fund managers in Hong Kong: AMLO framework, CDD/KYC, beneficial ownership, STRs, record-keeping, and SFC inspection readiness.

Single-family office

Private Wealth & Trusts

Setting Up a Single-Family Office in Hong Kong: A Complete Legal Guide

How to set up a single-family office in Hong Kong: corporate structure, SFC licensing exemptions, tax planning, governance, and regulatory compliance.

Single-family office

Private Wealth & Trusts

Private Trusts in Hong Kong: Structures, Uses, and Key Legal Considerations

Private trusts in Hong Kong: discretionary trusts, fixed trusts, trustee duties, trust taxation, and common uses for estate planning and family offices.

Single-family office

Digital Assets & Virtual Assets

Hong Kong's Stablecoin Licensing Regime: Licences Granted and What Issuers Need to Know

Hong Kong's stablecoin regime in practice: the first two HKMA licences, HK$25m capital, one-business-day redemption, and what a licence now unlocks for intermediaries.

Single-family office

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