Hong Kong launched its Capital Investment Entrant Scheme for wealthy investors in 2003. The program was introduced to boost the country’s ailing economy. Applicants were required to invest HK$6.5 million in permissible investments. In 2010, the threshold was raised to HK$10 million ($1.3 million). Real estate purchases were removed from eligibility, in a bid to curb rising property prices.

In January 2015, the scheme was suspended indefinitely. An Immigration Department spokesman said the move was made in an attempt to attract more professionals and “innovative entrepreneurs.”

In total, the scheme has brought more than HK$224 billion ($29 billion) in investment, through the granting of residency to 26,341 individuals, almost 90% of whom were Chinese citizens.