The Hong Kong government’s initiative to attract family offices is not just a financial strategy—it’s part of a broader vision to shape legacy, leadership, and long-term resilience.

As of the end of 2024, over 140 new family offices had been established or expanded in the city, with projections indicating that over 200 will be set up by the close of 2025. While these numbers are encouraging, the real opportunity lies beyond capita

The True Potential of Family Offices in Hong Kong

Success can be studied, understood, and shaped.

It’s not just about short-term returns; it’s about designing a future with intention. Many of Hong Kong’s newest family offices are currently focused on investment management. However, we see this as just the beginning.

True impact will come when these family offices embrace their potential as strategic vehicles for legacy building, governance, and generational transformation.

Shifting Focus from Financial KPIs to Legacy Building

Industry voices are urging policymakers to shift their focus beyond initial KPIs once they are met.

Family offices have the potential to play a critical role not only in portfolio management but also in fostering purpose and potential across generations. As custodians of family values, identity, and cohesion, they are uniquely positioned to guide leadership transitions and vision.

A Global Mix: Hong Kong’s Family Office Influx

The influx of family offices into Hong Kong represents a global mix of families from Mainland China, ASEAN, Europe, and North America.

With over 2,700 single-family offices estimated to be operating locally, and tax incentives requiring a HKD 240 million investment threshold, the financial momentum is undeniable.

However, to truly future-proof this growth, families must embrace “Mapping the Future”, leveraging strategic foresight, scenario planning, and leadership continuity to shape the decades ahead.

Shifting Toward a Legacy-Oriented Future

Promising Signs of Change in Hong Kong

There are promising signs of change. Interest in sectors like technology and sustainable energy is growing, suggesting a willingness to move beyond traditional investments in bonds and real estate.

Meanwhile, initiatives like “Study in Hong Kong” are drawing the next generation into a deeper connection with the city’s academic and cultural fabric. As young family members live, study, and lead from within Hong Kong, their ties to the city become not just practical but personal. This is the foundation of a sustainable legacy.

Bridging the Gap: The Need for Transformation Frameworks

Yet, there remains a gap.

Many newer family offices in the region have yet to adopt the transformation frameworks seen in mature markets. In Europe and the US, family offices often serve as platforms for structured succession planning, values preservation, and long-term unity. In Asia, this mindset is still emerging.

Succession planning doesn’t begin with a legal transfer—it begins with intent. With guided development, future family leaders can evolve from heirs to architects. Hong Kong is well-positioned to lead this evolution if it commits to nurturing leadership development as a craft, not a contingency.

How DRI Supports Leadership Development in Family Offices

At DRI, we focus on those defining moments where decisions impact generations.

Many successful families in Hong Kong already demonstrate how thoughtful governance, philanthropic commitments, and heritage initiatives can reinforce cohesion and continuity. Whether it’s through creating a family legacy blueprint or charter, funding scholarships, or building a legacy foundation, family offices can shape not just financial outcomes but enduring meaning.

The Key to Hong Kong’s Continued Competitiveness

Ultimately, Hong Kong’s continued competitiveness won’t rest solely on capital flows, it will depend on whether families choose to root their legacy here.

That means moving beyond financial infrastructure to social integration, cultural affinity, and multi-generational strategy.

For the family offices of tomorrow, the question isn’t simply where to invest; it’s how to lead, what to preserve, and who will carry it forward.