The Hong Kong Identity Favoured by Wealthy Celebrities, How Much Do You Know?
Since joining the “talent war,” Hong Kong has attracted many top talents, including some well-known wealthy individuals and celebrities. For example, Jack Ma was appointed as an honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong, becoming an important member of higher education in Hong Kong. In this process, many celebrities have also obtained Hong Kong identity early, enjoying the high-quality resources and unique advantages here.
Jack Ma
Since Hong Kong joined the “talent war,” Jack Ma has become one of the many top talents “snatched” away. He was appointed as an honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong and will teach at the Faculty of Business and Economics. This move not only demonstrates Hong Kong’s strong attractiveness as a talent hub but also further proves its competitiveness in the global education sector.
A List of Celebrities with Hong Kong Identity
Lang Lang
The famous pianist Lang Lang moved to Hong Kong more than a decade ago through the “Hong Kong Talent Admission Scheme,” becoming the first person to settle and obtain a Hong Kong endorsement based on outstanding talent qualifications.
Couple Sun Li and Deng Chao
In April 2014, they chose to apply for the Talent Admission Scheme for the imminent birth of their second child. As a result, their daughter automatically became a “Hong Kong permanent resident” upon birth. Having Hong Kong identity not only means that children can enjoy the high-quality educational resources in Hong Kong but also enables them to enter pure foreign international schools on the mainland without barriers, providing more options for the future.
Huang Xiaoming
Huang Xiaoming once stated that one of the reasons he applied for a Hong Kong identity card was to facilitate filming in Hong Kong. In addition, he has established multiple companies in Hong Kong. After obtaining Hong Kong identity, his development in the Hong Kong entertainment industry has been smoother, which also helps expand his business empire. Enjoying Hong Kong’s low tax rates and the advantage of no estate or gift taxes is undoubtedly a huge boon for business people.
Zhang Ziyi
In 2007, Zhang Ziyi successfully obtained Hong Kong identity based on winning the Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards. This not only facilitated her work commute between the mainland and Hong Kong but also made it easier for her to attend international events and connect with more high-end resources and contacts.
Tang Wei
In 2008, Tang Wei moved to Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Talent Admission Scheme and became the ambassador of the scheme. In 2016, she gave birth to a daughter in Hong Kong named Summer, thereby obtaining Hong Kong identity.
Celebrities Giving Birth in Hong Kong
Many celebrities choose to give birth in Hong Kong not only to grant their children Hong Kong identity but also to enjoy the high-quality services during the birthing process.
Zhang Jie and Xie Na
Sichuan nationals Jie Zhang and Xie Na were revealed to have given birth to a daughter in Hong Kong in 2021, with the child receiving Hong Kong status as a result.
Yang Mi
Yang Mi is a native of Beijing, and her ex-husband Liu Kaiwei is a native of Hong Kong, where she gave birth to her daughter, Xiaoyuomi, in 2014, giving her child a Hong Kong identity.
Xi Mengyao
Xi Mengyao is a native of Shanghai and Lawrence Ho is the son of Macau’s King of Gamblers, Stanley Ho. She gave birth to her first child in 2019 and her second daughter in Hong Kong in 2021. She has revealed that giving birth in Hong Kong was not only painless, but she was also very satisfied with the medical services in Hong Kong, both in terms of pain management and emotional support.
Biting Guo
Taiwanese-born Guo Biting and her Macau-born husband welcomed their second daughter in 2021, with the child being born in Hong Kong and given Hong Kong status.
The Enormous Advantages of Hong Kong Identity
Hong Kong practices jus soli, allowing children to be born in Hong Kong as long as one parent has Hong Kong identity. The child automatically becomes a Hong Kong permanent resident upon birth, enjoys a Special Administrative Region passport, and achieves visa-free access to 171 countries and regions worldwide. Additionally, celebrity families typically choose to have their children attend international schools, where having Hong Kong identity offers them more options.
Even without attending international schools, children can still have the choice to enter mainland China, Hong Kong, or overseas universities by taking the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (DSE). Moreover, children with Hong Kong identity can also enter mainland Chinese universities through the Joint Entrance Examination for Overseas Chinese Students, which has less competition pressure than the regular college entrance examination and lower difficulty.
Conclusion
For children, having Hong Kong identity is undoubtedly a multipurpose choice. Through the “Hong Kong Talent Admission Scheme,” ordinary people also have the opportunity to apply for Hong Kong identity without requiring extremely high achievements, just meeting basic criteria. Whether for educational resources or quality of life, Hong Kong identity is an extremely attractive choice. It not only brings more opportunities and development space for individuals and families but also allows children to have more choices and possibilities in their future life paths.