Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates has opened the doors of its first intercontinental office in Hong Kong in East Asia. The Hong Kong office shall be the firm’s 5th international office and marks our firm’s transition from a Europe- based firm into a fully-fledged international law firm. Our physical presence in Hong Kong will help us act as a link for Asian HNW individuals and their families seeking access to live, work or study in Europe through one of our Residency or Citizenship Programmes, or one of the various services which we offer in different sectors, most notably in financial services, energy, property and the luxury industry.
Mr Kenneth Camilleri, the head of the Asia desk at the firm, said, “We are very pleased to be opening our office in Hong Kong as this will enable us to serve our Asian clients as expediently and efficiently as possible. Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates has already fostered relationships with several Asian clients, therefore we are enthusiastic that our new offices will allow us to build upon our previous experience and to work closer than ever with our Asian clients and to become their first point of reference when seeking entry into the European market.”
“Private investors seeking to live in Europe will be able to get first-hand assistance by our team who will now provide tailored advice on the ground, based on the clients’ background, goals and aspirations,” Camilleri added.
Malta-China Relationship
2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta. In the past 45 years, the relationship between these two diverse countries has blossomed into a strong relationship of win-win cooperation where both countries assisted one another in times of need. Despite surrounding uncertainties, China and Malta have managed to build solid political trust based on mutual respect and understanding.
In recent years, Chetcuti Cauchi has left its mark on the China-Malta ties as well by advising the Chinese multinational power generation company Shangai Electric Power (SEP) in the acquisition of a minority stake in Enemalta and a majority stake in the BWSC Delimara plant, through a 300 million foreign direct investment which today marks the largest ever foreign direct investment in the Maltese islands. This was not only an important milestone for the Maltese economy but also for Maltese ties with China as this mutually beneficial deal has paved the road for future cooperation in renewable energy between SEP and Malta’s government
EU Residency and Citizenship
A number of Asian private clients and HNWI have opted for the Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme, the Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Programme or one of the various residency programmes in the light of the benefits which they offer.
Interest in the attainment of a second passport or a second residence has skyrocketed within a few years- and with good reason. HNW individuals, entrepreneurs and investors are increasingly becoming aware that a passport can either be a gateway to hassle-free business and better opportunities almost anywhere in the world, or it can be a hindrance for one’s international business transactions. In the worst case scenario, it can even be a vulnerability where there is political instability and societal unrest. Thus, diversifying one’s passport portfolio is now seen as an opportunity to travel more easily without the need to obtain a visa, increase one’s mobility, secure a good quality of life for one’s family and a good education for the children, and to ensure one’s peace of mind that his or her investments will thrive in a stable economy.
Moreover, in the light of various geopolitical issues which have questioned the stability of various countries and regions, such as the Trump administration’s travelling ban to certain countries, Brexit and the tension with North Korea and the South China Sea, citizenship or residency of a non-aligned and neutral state gives peace of mind that one will have the option to reside or retire in a safe country.
If you are considering investing in one of our residency or citizenship programmes, we warmly welcome you to use our Residence Programmes Comparison Tool or Citizenship Programmes Comparison Tool to gain some insight on the benefits and eligibility requirements of each programme and to contact us to see how we can assist you.
A Full Plethora of Service
Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates is a multidisciplinary firm specialising in several legal disciplines. We offer legal and tax advice to an international clientele from our Malta, Cyprus, Zurich, London and HK offices. From the Financial Services capital of Hong Kong, our team will be able to assist Asian clients seeking access to the European Financial services sector. We also offer full company relocation advice to companies interested in setting up in Malta or Cyprus.
