O’Sullivan Secures Hong Kong Residency and Saves Taxes

On October 31, 2024, the Hong Kong Immigration Department announced on Instagram that snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan had successfully obtained Hong Kong residency through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. The news caused a sensation across Hong Kong! Anyone with even a passing interest in snooker knows O’Sullivan’s name—widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the sport. He has consistently ranked World No. 1, holds numerous world records, and has won seven world championships. At 48 years old, his continued dominance in the sport is nothing short of extraordinary.

So why did O’Sullivan choose to move to Hong Kong? In an interview with Hong Kong’s Director of Immigration, Kwok Joon-fung, O’Sullivan explained several reasons for his decision, one of which was Hong Kong’s favorable tax system. He said:

"Obviously you know, someone like myself travelling from another country, the tax is also a good thing."

In this article, we’ll explore why O’Sullivan can save taxes by relocating to Hong Kong, how much he stands to save, and which taxes he cannot avoid. Finally, we’ll debunk some errors in local media coverage of his tax savings.