IPO Boom, Tax Plan Help Hong Kong Lure Back Global Finance Talent

A revived initial public offering market and proposed tax exemptions for fund managers are driving a wave of foreign financial professionals back to Hong Kong.

The talent influx marks a critical turnaround for the Asian financial hub as it reclaims ground lost to rivals like Singapore during the pandemic.

The city approved 31,278 employment visas for foreign nationals in 2025, more than double the volume from five years ago, according to Hong Kong’s Immigration Department. Visas for the financial services sector jumped 17% last year to the highest level since 2022. Professionals from South Korea, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. led the migration, with strong momentum continuing into early 2026.