Assessment on Portfolio Maintenance Requirements
The Applicant/Entrant must deposit his Permissible financial assets into a designated account operated by an eligible financial intermediary (only one account per financial intermediary is permitted), use the designated account exclusively for the transaction of Permissible financial assets and must not reduce the committed investment while permitted to stay in Hong Kong under the Scheme. In order to qualify and remain qualified under the Scheme, an Applicant/Entrant will have to comply with the following requirements in respect of his Permissible investment assets and provide all such material information in writing to the satisfaction of Director-General of Investment Promotion with regard to these assets as Director-General of Investment Promotion may request in order to assess the Applicant’s/Entrant's eligibility and entitlement (if any) under the Scheme.
The Applicant/Entrant is required to transact only in the Permissible financial assets and held in the designated account(s) in his own name to be opened with the eligible financial intermediary(ies) for the purpose of the Scheme and to give written instructions to this effect in the contract with his financial intermediary(ies). The Applicant/Entrant may switch between different types of Permissible financial assets at any time.
The Applicant/Entrant may at any time withdraw from the designated account any cash dividend income or interest income arising directly from the Permissible financial assets. An Applicant/Entrant may at any time dispose of or realise the value of the Permissible financial assets which qualify under the Scheme but he will only continue to be eligible and to qualify under the Scheme if he reinvests not less than the entire Market value of those Permissible financial assets (as assessed on the date of disposal thereof) in Permissible investment assets.
Concerning acquisition of real estate, there is no restriction on the number of real estate bought for the purpose of gaining entry under the Scheme, but only investment in form of equity in real estate is counted towards the minimum investment threshold. An Applicant/Entrant may take out a mortgage loan with a bank or financial institution licensed in Hong Kong in respect of the real estate but only the amount of equity is counted for the purpose of the Scheme. Refinancing of the outstanding mortgage loan is allowed provided that the Applicant/Entrant does not increase the outstanding loan or in any way realise any capital gain on the value of the real estate. An Applicant/Entrant may sell the real estate and would continue to qualify under the Scheme if he invests the entire proceeds from the sale in other Permissible investment assets after deducting the amount of the original mortgage loan, if any, secured by the real estate. Rental income from the real estate can be paid and retained by the Applicant/Entrant and need not be ring-fenced under the Scheme.
The Applicant/Entrant is required to engage a Certified Public Accountant (Practising) as defined in the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Ordinance (Cap. 588 of the Laws of Hong Kong) at his own cost to assist in demonstrating his fulfillment of Portfolio Maintenance Requirements after the first anniversary of the grant of Formal Approval to the Applicant/Entrant to join the Scheme, and after each subsequent anniversary. The Applicant/Entrant is required to submit the Fulfillment document and all relevant supporting documents stated therein within one month after the first anniversary, and after each subsequent anniversary to New CIES Office.