China is increasing scrutiny of offshore wealth and cross-border investment structures.
New rules issued on 24 July 2026 address assets transferred into offshore trusts and income generated during the life of those structures — including certain income that has not yet been distributed.
Separately, Chinese authorities have reportedly begun applying a 20% individual income tax rate to certain returns from Hong Kong insurance policies.
This is more than a tax story.
It may influence how private investors, business owners and family offices think about:
- Tax residency
- Offshore trusts and succession
- International banking
- Business ownership
- Property holdings
- Family relocation
- Cross-border investment
Hong Kong remains one of the world’s most important cross-border wealth centres. But the direction is becoming clearer:
More documentation.
More transparency.
More scrutiny of how capital moves across borders.
For private clients, the question should no longer be:
“Where can I move my assets?”
A better question is:
“How should my business, residency, banking, property, succession and investment structure work together — legally, transparently and across the right jurisdictions?”
Different markets may serve different roles:
Hong Kong
China connectivity, capital markets and cross-border finance
Singapore
Southeast Asia access and a developed family-office ecosystem
UAE
International business, residency, property and access to the Middle East and Africa
The UAE should not be presented as a shortcut around another country’s tax obligations.
It may, however, form one part of a properly advised international strategy.
At ASIA PRIVATE DESK, we begin by understanding the client’s objectives, existing structure and residency position — then coordinate the appropriate licensed tax, legal, banking and professional specialists.
This article is general market commentary and does not constitute tax, legal or investment advice.