(HONG KONG TRUSTS & ASIA GATEWAY PLANNING)

Hong Kong Trust

Built around the Trustee Ordinance and its substantial 2013 reforms, a Hong Kong Trust works as a modernised gateway for wealth connected to Asia and Mainland China. Because it can run for an unlimited period, lets you keep protected reserved powers, and sits inside Asia’s family office and private banking sector, it deserves real consideration for dynasty planning and cross-border structuring. Offshore Broker handles professional trustee onboarding, structure design and, if you want it, Hong Kong company or banking support; pricing is quoted on application.

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Specialist jurisdiction

Offshore Broker · Hong Kong Trust

Flag of Hong Kong
Asia Pacific Hong Kong
Latitude 00.0000° N
Longitude 000.0000° E
Written and reviewed by John Evans Connor Steens
Updated
Pricing On application After we review the trustee and structure, you receive a written, itemised quote.
Duration Unlimited since 2013 For Hong Kong trusts, the 2013 amendment removed the rule against perpetuities.
Reserved powers Settlor involvement protected Since the 2013 reforms, a settlor can hold back powers without invalidating the trust.

(HONG KONG TRUST & GATEWAY SNAPSHOT)

A credible, up-to-date trust framework for planning wealth across borders

The main law behind a Hong Kong Trust is the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29), first enacted in 1934 and heavily updated by the Trust Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2013. Hong Kong itself is a leading hub for family offices and wealth management, positioned toward Mainland China and the wider Asian region.Those 2013 reforms did away with the rule against perpetuities for Hong Kong trusts, and they let a settlor hold back certain powers – including the right to direct investments – without putting the trust at risk.For the fastest possible defence against a hostile commercial creditor, Hong Kong is not the jurisdiction Offshore Broker would put first. When that is your main goal, weigh it against the Cook Islands Trust and Nevis Trust.

Governing law

Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29), amended 2013

Trustee

The trust is administered by a Hong Kong-licensed trustee

Duration

Unlimited, once the 2013 reforms scrapped the rule against perpetuities

Primary use

Wealth structuring and family offices geared toward Asia and Mainland China

Reserved powers

The settlor can hold back powers and the trust stays valid

Protection focus

Beneficiaries can replace a trustee without needing a court order

This is a general summary only. Hong Kong is at its best for wealth structuring and family office planning aimed at Asia and Mainland China. It is not the jurisdiction Offshore Broker prefers for defence against hostile commercial creditors, and whether it suits you depends on the client, the assets, the timing and your home-country law.

(WHAT YOUR FEE COVERS)

What’s covered by our Hong Kong Trust service

REQUEST A QUOTE

Pick a standalone trust, a trust plus company, or a full company-and-banking package

We quote pricing on application, since trustee fees, how complex the deed is, any underlying Hong Kong company and the assets involved all shape the scope.

Standalone trust

Hong Kong Trust

On application

Scope is confirmed once the trustee review is done

A standalone Hong Kong Trust for wealth structuring aimed at Asia and Mainland China, set within a modernised trust framework that can run indefinitely.

Onboarding a licensed Hong Kong trustee and coordinating due diligence
A trust deed and formation paperwork that comply with the Trustee Ordinance
The first-year trustee and administration scope set out, itemised, in writing
Discuss this option↗
Trust + company

Hong Kong Trust + Company

On application

Scope is confirmed once the trustee review is done

A Hong Kong Trust sitting over an underlying Hong Kong company that holds your bank, brokerage and business interests — the usual setup for Asia-facing clients.

Forming both the Hong Kong Trust and the Hong Kong company
Gateway structuring for wealth across Mainland China and the wider Asian region
Trustee, registration and third-party costs itemised in your written quote
Discuss this structure↗
Complete structure

Trust, Hong Kong company and banking assistance

On application

Scope is confirmed once the provider review is done

One coordinated structure that brings together a Hong Kong Trust, a Hong Kong company and, where it fits, help opening bank or brokerage accounts.

A Hong Kong Trust with the Hong Kong company beneath it
Coordination of bank or brokerage accounts
A full itemised quote before you commit to anything
Book a consultation↗

Before any formation work starts, the written proposal and the trustee’s acceptance set out the exact scope, the costs included, the company documents and your ongoing obligations.

(HONG KONG TRUST GUIDE)

The Hong Kong Trust structure, explained in plain English

01 · Governing law

Trustee Ordinance, Cap. 29

The law governing a Hong Kong Trust is the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29), which dates to 1934 and was substantially modernised by the Trust Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2013.

02 · Long-term planning

Duration made unlimited from 2013

By removing the rule against perpetuities for Hong Kong trusts, the 2013 amendment made truly indefinite dynasty structures possible.

03 · Reserved powers

Settlor involvement protected

From 2013 onward, a settlor can keep certain powers — such as directing investments — without those powers invalidating the trust.

04 · Trustee

Licensed Hong Kong trustee

A Hong Kong-licensed trustee runs the trust within the framework set by the Trustee Ordinance.

05 · Governance

Beneficiaries hold the power to replace a trustee

Under set conditions, the 2013 reforms let beneficiaries remove and replace a trustee without a court order.

06 · Gateway access

Oriented toward Asia and Mainland China

As a family office and wealth management hub, Hong Kong gives these structures direct access to wealth flows across Asia and Mainland China.

Important: Hong Kong is built for wealth structuring and family office planning that faces Asia and Mainland China, not to stand in for a purpose-built commercial-creditor structure. Compare the Cook Islands Trust and Nevis Trust when hostile-creditor asset protection is your main aim. Official sources include the Hong Kong Trustee Ordinance, Cap. 29.

(WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE US)

Hong Kong Trust coordination, informed by a cross-jurisdiction view

Offshore Broker arranges Hong Kong Trusts, the Hong Kong companies that sit beneath them and the related banking support. We also give you an honest comparison against purpose-built asset-protection options, so you use Hong Kong for what it genuinely does well: unlimited duration, reserved powers and access to the Asia gateway.

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Direct relationships with licensed Hong Kong trustees.

Before we recommend a structure, we weigh a Hong Kong Trust against purpose-built asset-protection jurisdictions, so Asia-facing wealth structuring never gets mistaken for commercial-creditor defence.

Fixed-fee pricing, with no hidden costs or surprise add-ons

We manage the application, due diligence, deed drafting and trustee process together with established, licensed Hong Kong professional service providers.

An honest comparison — we'll say so when the Cook Islands or Nevis is the stronger choice for adversarial protection

We agree the formation scope and fees before any work starts, and during onboarding we clearly explain trustee charges, third-party costs and ongoing administration.

Working across more than 20 jurisdictions — among them Hong Kong, the Cook Islands, Nevis, BVI and Guernsey

If your setup calls for an underlying Hong Kong company, banking, brokerage or another jurisdiction, we coordinate the wider structure through a single point of contact.

Optional legal and tax advice to keep you fully compliant at home

Where needed, we coordinate reserved powers, trustee-removal provisions and long-term family office governance with the trustee and legal specialists.

Structure comparison

The Hong Kong Trust set against the Cook Islands Trust

Each has real legal strength, but they were designed with different priorities in mind. The Cook Islands applies a criminal burden of proof and the shortest limitation period found anywhere; Hong Kong brings unlimited duration, reserved powers and direct access to Asian and Mainland Chinese wealth flows that no Pacific jurisdiction can match.

Purpose-built asset protection

Cook Islands Trust

Burden of proofA criminal, beyond-reasonable-doubt standard for fraudulent-transfer claims.
Limitation periodOne to two years — among the shortest of any trust jurisdiction.
Track recordA 40-year record of holding up against direct challenges from US federal agencies, the FTC and SEC included.
Asia gateway accessNone — it is a Pacific offshore jurisdiction, without Hong Kong's Asia-facing position.
Asia’s family office gateway

Hong Kong Trust

Burden of proofA civil standard — Hong Kong's general civil law principles apply.
DurationUnlimited, once the 2013 reforms scrapped the rule against perpetuities.
Asia gateway accessA leading family office and wealth management hub oriented toward Mainland China and the wider Asian region.
Reserved powersBy statute since 2013, the settlor can reserve powers without invalidating the trust.
Choose Cook Islands ↗If what matters most is the strongest possible defence against a current or expected US-style creditor claim.
Choose Hong Kong TrustIf your priority is structuring that faces Asia or Mainland China, family office governance, or long-duration dynasty planning.
For a known or expected commercial-creditor claim in particular, the Cook Islands Trust stays our purpose-built recommendation. Compare Cook Islands Trust

(WHO MIGHT WANT A HONG KONG TRUST?)

Well suited to Asia-facing dynasty and family office planning

A Hong Kong Trust can work well for families and family offices with business ties to Mainland China or the wider Asian region, and for clients who want dynasty structures that last indefinitely. If you already face, or expect, commercial-creditor claims, look at the Cook Islands or Nevis before settling on Hong Kong.

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Where Hong Kong leads

Wealth structuring that faces Asia and Mainland China

Hong Kong makes the strongest case for clients with real Asian or Mainland Chinese business interests who want a modernised trust framework that lasts indefinitely.

Families and entrepreneurs whose business interests reach into Mainland China or the wider Asian region
Family offices after dynasty structures that can run indefinitely
Clients who want to stay involved in investment decisions through reserved powers
Investors after a trust jurisdiction woven into Asia's private banking sector
When a different jurisdiction is the better fit

Not the option Offshore Broker reaches for first against adversarial creditor claims

Hong Kong provides a genuinely modernised trust framework, but it isn't structured around the criminal-burden, short-limitation defences that define the Cook Islands or Nevis.

No criminal, beyond-reasonable-doubt burden of proof — Hong Kong works on civil law principles
No fixed, short statutory limitation period specific to trust transfers
Self-settled asset-protection trusts aren't what the jurisdiction was designed around
Suitability against commercial creditors has to be assessed before funding
For a known or expected commercial claim, compare the Cook Islands Trust and Nevis Trust. For Asia-facing structuring and family office planning, Hong Kong is often the stronger fit.

(OPTIONAL STRUCTURING HELP)

Hong Kong Trust, Company & Banking

You can pair a Hong Kong Trust with an underlying Hong Kong company plus support for opening bank or brokerage accounts. The trust holds the company’s shares, and the company in turn holds the approved investments, business interests or financial accounts.

  • Hong Kong trustee application coordinated from start to finish
  • Trustee, registration and third-party costs itemised in your written quote
  • Hong Kong-compliant trust deed prepared where required
  • Structure registered and prepared to receive trustee-approved assets

Discuss a complete structure

(INTERNATIONAL TRUST KNOW-HOW)

The international trust specialists you’ll work with

BOOK A TRUST CONSULTATION

John Evans
Forbes Business Council

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

More than two decades of experience across offshore banking, asset protection, international companies and trusts.

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Connor Steens
BBUS

Founder & Business Development Director

Sydney, Australia

Specialises in offshore structuring, strategic partnerships, business development and global wealth solutions.

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Atinata Hosking

Sales Manager

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Brings more than two decades of experience in offshore banking, regulatory compliance and client relationship management.

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Melanie Tetuaiteroi

Sales Assistant

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Supports client onboarding, communications, documentation and operational coordination, backed by fiduciary administration experience.

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(HOW WE SET IT UP)

01

Reviewing your goals and the right jurisdiction

We look at your objectives, the assets you plan to place, your beneficiaries, and whether Hong Kong, the Cook Islands or Nevis best fits your situation.

02

Working through our simplified onboarding

We work alongside a licensed Hong Kong trustee and decide whether a standalone trust, an underlying Hong Kong company or account support makes sense for you.

03

Due diligence and drafting the deed and succession terms

You go through the trustee’s due diligence while we prepare the deed, the beneficiary arrangements, the reserved powers and the company documents.

04

Setting up, funding and running the structure

After the trust is accepted and signed, the approved assets or the Hong Kong company shares are transferred, and the trustee’s ongoing administration and recordkeeping get under way.

(HONG KONG TRUST PERSPECTIVES)

Further reading on offshore asset protection

VIEW ARTICLES

Recent Articles

Explore our latest insights, practical guides and updates on international wealth structuring.

(ABOUT HONG KONG TRUSTS)

What exactly is a Hong Kong Trust?

A Hong Kong Trust operates under the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29), which goes back to 1934 and was heavily updated by the Trust Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2013. That 2013 update removed the rule against perpetuities, let the settlor keep reserved powers without invalidating the trust, and, under set conditions, let beneficiaries remove a trustee without going to court. Hong Kong is a leading family office and wealth management hub oriented toward Mainland China and the broader Asian region.

(YOUR HONG KONG TRUST QUESTIONS)

Answers to your questions about Hong Kong Trusts

What is a Hong Kong Trust used for?

A Hong Kong Trust is commonly used for Wealth structuring that faces Asia and Mainland China, family office governance and dynasty planning. Since the 2013 reforms, Hong Kong trusts can be established for an unlimited duration.

Is a Hong Kong Trust legal?

Yes. Hong Kong Trusts are completely legal, and families and family offices across Asia and beyond use them. A US settlor must report the trust to the IRS each year on Forms 3520 and 3520-A. Offshore Broker makes sure every structure fully meets your home-country reporting obligations.

Does a Hong Kong Trust protect assets from creditors like a Cook Islands Trust?

Not in the same way. Hong Kong trust law has no dedicated self-settled asset-protection statute. What it does well is unlimited duration, reserved powers and Asia-facing gateway access. When adversarial creditor protection is specifically what you need, we recommend the Cook Islands or Nevis Trust.

How much does a Hong Kong Trust cost?

We quote pricing on application, and it depends on the structure you need — a standalone trust, or a trust with an underlying Hong Kong company and bank account. You get a full, itemised quote before you commit, with no hidden costs.

Can I set up a Hong Kong Trust if I’m already facing a lawsuit?

It depends on the particular circumstances. Under general Hong Kong law, a transfer made with the intent to defraud a known creditor can still be challenged. If you are already facing legal action, we recommend talking through your situation with us directly.

Can I still access my assets after transferring them to the trust?

Yes. Since the 2013 reforms, a settlor can keep powers — including the direction of investments — without those powers invalidating the trust, so long as it stays within the terms the trust deed sets out.

What assets can a Hong Kong Trust hold?

Almost any asset class — cash, securities, business interests and so on. Real estate is usually held through a Hong Kong company that the trust owns, rather than held directly, because property always falls under the law of the place where it is located.

How long does it take to establish a Hong Kong Trust?

Once the trustee's due diligence is finished, the trust deed and registration usually take two to four weeks. Opening accounts at Hong Kong banks adds another four to six weeks.

Do I need a lawyer to set up a Hong Kong Trust?

We strongly recommend getting independent legal and tax advice, especially if you are a US person with IRS reporting obligations. Offshore Broker manages the whole formation process and can introduce you to qualified advisors who specialise in Hong Kong structures.

What is a trust protector and do I need one?

A trust protector is an independent third party granted defined powers, which usually include removing and replacing the trustee. Since the 2013 reforms, beneficiaries too can remove a trustee without a court order, under set conditions.

What are the annual costs of maintaining a Hong Kong Trust?

Yearly trustee administration fees vary with the trustee company and how complex your structure is. Structures that include an underlying company or active banking cost more. We give you a full breakdown of formation and ongoing costs before you commit.

(CONTACT US)

Speak to a specialist. Let’s build your structure.

Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a senior member of our team to discuss your objectives and the services we have available.