Ernst & Young supports the Hong Kong government in promoting targeted tax incentives and urges the inclusion of high-end artworks in the tax incentive system

Wang Wenhui, the co-head of private enterprise tax services and family business services at Ernst & Young Greater China, stated that the government’s implementation of the optimized family office and fund tax system in the first half of 2026 is welcomed. Expanding the scope of eligible investments to include digital assets, precious metals, and specific bulk commodities will further enhance Hong Kong's competitive advantage as an international asset and wealth management center.

The firm recommends that authorities continue to regularly review the scope of eligible investments and explore including high-end artworks, collectibles, and cultural relics in the tax incentive system. Such arrangements could better align with global family office investment trends and help strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international center for art trading and cultural exchange.

Additionally, the budget proposal includes several new or optimized tax measures to maintain Hong Kong's overall competitiveness, including studying tax incentives for eligible institutions conducting gold trading and settlement in Hong Kong, providing tax certainty for corporate treasury centers through a pre-approval mechanism, optimizing tax deduction arrangements for R&D expenses and capital expenditures for purchasing intellectual property or its usage rights, promoting Hong Kong's development as an international shipping center, and introducing tax reductions to promote industry and investment.

Tan Zhixiong, a partner in Ernst & Young's tax services, expressed agreement with the government's targeted tax incentives to promote the development of emerging industries and strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness in advantageous sectors. The firm suggests that the government introduce tax incentives for regional headquarters and allocate more resources to expand Hong Kong's network of tax agreements.

Li Shun'er, the managing partner of Ernst & Young Hong Kong and Macau, expressed optimism about Hong Kong's economic prospects and appreciated the government's adherence to the principles of "user pays" and "ability to pay," which helps improve resource allocation efficiency and maintain fairness. The firm also agrees with the government's gradual replacement of short-term debt with long-term debt, which reduces the need for refinancing in the short term while enriching the variety of bond products in the market