Getting around Hong Kong is incredibly easy, thanks to its efficient and safe public transport system, which includes taxis, ferries, trains, buses and trams.

Over the years, Hong Kong’s public transport system has been consistently ranked at the top worldwide thanks to its efficiency, affordability and accessibility compared with dozens of other thriving cities in the annual Urban Mobility Readiness Index published by Oliver Wyman Forum, the think tank of the eponymous American management consulting company.

Its extensive range of convenient payment options, from cash, Octopus Card, credit card to e-wallet, mean navigating the city is a breeze. But cashless digital transactions can be made around the city not only on public transport, but also at many hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, museums, high-end retailers, convenience stores and small corner shops.

Up to 91 per cent of Hongkongers now use digital payments according to 2023’s first Fintech Adoption Index report into consumer financial technology adoption, which is published every six months by Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Accounting and Finance in collaboration with the artificial intelligence stock investment app, Asklora.

The MTR’s high-speed Airport Express takes you to the city’s premier business district of Central in a rapid 24-minute ride. The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which began services in September 2018, connects the city to more than 40,000km of national high-speed rail; as of last April, the network linked 188 daily trips from Hong Kong to 73 mainland destinations. Overnight high-speed services introduced since last June have cut the travel time to Beijing to about 11½ hours and Shanghai to less than 10 hours.

Hong Kong’s legal system is founded on the rule of law and independent judicial power, guided by the Basic Law – the city’s constitutional document that enshrines the concepts of “one country, two systems” – enacted by the National People’s Congress.

The city’s legal framework is distinct from that of the Chinese mainland because it is based on common law and supplemented by statutes.

In 2024, the independent nonprofit organisation World Justice Project ranked Hong Kong ninth out of 142 countries and territories in the “absence of corruption” category – and 23rd overall – in its Rule of Law Index.

Transparency is an important factor for a functional legal system, and all current legislation in Hong Kong is accessible through the Hong Kong e-Legislation website. In 2021, the city was ranked third as the most preferred seat for arbitration globally in the International Arbitration Survey released by Queen Mary University of London – an achievement supported by its robust infrastructure and skilled talent pool.

Investors and international businesses can depend on the certainty and consistency Hong Kong law brings.

Hong Kong offers an attractive low tax regime, which is particularly beneficial for overseas working professionals and businesses considering relocation. The tax system is straightforward, with no sales tax, value-added tax, investment withholding tax, capital gains tax, estate tax, wine duty, or tax on dividends and interest from savings.

Corporations enjoy a profits tax rate of just 8.25 per cent on the first HK$2 million of profits, with a rate of 16.5 per cent on profits above that threshold. Unincorporated businesses, such as partnerships and sole proprietorships, benefit from tiered tax rates of 7.5 per cent and 15 per cent.

For working professionals, tax on salaries is calculated at progressive rates on net chargeable income, or by a two-tiered standard system, whichever is lower. The progressive rates range from 2 per cent to 17 per cent, with the standard rate set at 15 per cent on the first HK$5 million of net income and 16 per cent on the remainder, making the low tax rates a compelling factor for those looking for more financial control over their earnings.

Hong Kong offers one of the world’s most advanced telecommunications networks, with a mobile subscriber penetration rate of 330.3 per cent, translating to more than 25 million mobile subscriptions as of last September.

The city is committed to being a leader in 5G mobile technology, further enhancing connectivity. In terms of utilities, Hong Kong enjoys a highly reliable electricity supply, with both HK Electric and CLP Power maintaining an impressive reliability rating of more than 99.99 per cent.

It is among the cities with the safest drinking water globally, according to Hong Kong’s Water Supplies Department, which rigorously treats and disinfects the drinking water. It employs preventive risk management and a multi-barrier approach to ensure it meets the stringent Hong Kong Drinking Water Standards, which align with World Health Organization guidelines. Each year, about 600,000 tests are conducted, ensuring the drinking water, sourced from local catchments and imported from Guangdong in mainland China, consistently meets high standards.

Hong Kong is an ideal place to launch a business. It is quick and easy to set up a company, with low costs and a supportive environment that helps businesses grow. Thanks to a one-stop registration service, if you apply to incorporate a local company or register a non-Hong Kong company, you will automatically be applying for business registration at the same time.

The government provides more than 70 subsidy schemes with different funding scopes, amounts and requirements to promote and support the development of enterprises and industries in Hong Kong.

The government’s dedicated agency, Hong Kong Talent Engage, offers extensive support for incoming talent looking to settle and thrive in Hong Kong. Those people who are interested in working in the city, but are yet to secure a job offer, can apply under the Top Talent Pass Scheme.

Applicants can choose from three categories based on their income status or academic background and work experience (see chart below), with category C subject to an annual quota which is allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hong Kong Talent Engage also connects incoming talent to supporting services in areas such as job matching, accommodation, children’s education, and banking services provided by working partners.

Hong Kong makes it easy for those relocating to the city for work or study to also bring family members. Sponsors admitted under various schemes can bring their spouse or registered partner and unmarried children aged under 18 on an approved dependent visa.

The Education Bureau provides various support services to ease the admission of accompanying children to local schools.

Education institutions in Hong Kong adopt international standards in curriculum design and the qualifications they award are internationally recognised. English is used as the teaching medium in most post-secondary programmes.

In addition to local schools, the city has 54 international primary and secondary schools offering International Baccalaureate courses as well as curriculums from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.