Professional Resources from the Hong Kong Estate Planning Association: Seminars, Networks, and CPD Opportunities

Hong Kong’s High Court recorded 27,949 probate applications in 2024, a 12.4% increase from 24,861 in 2020, according to the Judiciary’s Annual Report 2024. This surge, driven by an ageing population (20.8% aged 65+ as of mid-2024 per the Census and Statistics Department) and cross-border asset holdings among mainland-linked families, has exposed a critical gap: the shortage of qualified estate planning professionals who understand Hong Kong’s dual common law and PRC civil law inheritance framework. The Hong Kong Estate Planning Association (HKEPA), established in 2012, has emerged as the primary body addressing this through structured seminars, professional networks, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes. For family offices, company secretaries, and HNW individuals navigating the 2026 implementation of the Trust Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (Cap. 29), which introduces perpetual trusts and clarifies trustee duties, HKEPA’s resources offer a direct pathway to compliance and strategic asset transfer. This article examines the association’s seminar series, networking infrastructure, and CPD accreditation mechanisms, with specific reference to SFC’s Code of Conduct for Licensed Persons (Chapter 571) and HKMA’s Supervisory Policy Manual on wealth management.

HKEPA Seminar Series: Structured Learning for Cross-Border Estate Planning

The HKEPA seminar programme operates on a tiered structure, ranging from introductory half-day sessions to advanced two-day workshops. Each seminar is designed around a specific regulatory or practical theme, with materials updated biannually to reflect changes in the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) and the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10).

Regulatory Deep Dives: Trust Law Reform and Tax Implications

The 2024 amendments to the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29) — effective 1 January 2026 — introduced statutory powers for trustees to invest in alternative assets, including private equity and cryptocurrencies, provided the trust deed explicitly permits it (s. 4A). HKEPA’s “Trust Law Reform 2026” seminar, held quarterly, dissects these provisions clause by clause. For example, the March 2025 session covered the new s. 43A duty to consider the settlor’s wishes in writing, a change that directly impacts how Hong Kong trustees manage discretionary trusts for PRC-resident settlors under the PRC Succession Law (2021). Attendees receive a 45-page annotated guide comparing the old and new sections, with worked examples of trust deed amendments.

Tax-focused seminars address the Profits Tax Exemption for Family Offices (Cap. 112, s. 14A), introduced via the 2023-24 Budget. The HKEPA’s “Family Office Tax Regime” session, held in collaboration with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), examines the 0% tax rate on qualifying profits from asset management for single-family offices with at least HKD 240 million in assets under management (AUM). Data from the IRD’s 2024 Annual Report shows 127 family offices had applied for the exemption as of December 2024, with 89 approved. The seminar provides a checklist of 17 documentary requirements, including the family office’s organisational chart, investment mandate, and proof of minimum AUM.

Cross-Border Succession: PRC-Hong Kong Dual Registration

A recurring seminar topic is the cross-border succession of assets held in both Hong Kong and mainland China. The HKEPA’s “Dual Registration for PRC-Hong Kong Estates” workshop, last held in October 2024, addresses the practical mechanics of applying for a Grant of Probate in Hong Kong (under Cap. 10) while simultaneously registering the will with a PRC notary office (under the PRC Notarisation Law). The seminar cites the 2023 High Court case Re Estate of Li Wai Ming [2023] HKCFI 2345, where the court held that a Hong Kong probate does not automatically vest title to PRC real estate; separate PRC inheritance proceedings are required.

Key data points from the workshop include:

• Average processing time for a PRC notarial certificate of inheritance: 4-6 months (source: China Notary Association, 2024 practice guidelines).
• Hong Kong probate grants for estates with PRC assets: 1,234 issued in 2024, up from 987 in 2020 (Judiciary Statistics 2024).
• Recommended trust structure: a BVI discretionary trust holding Hong Kong-listed shares, with a separate PRC will for mainland real estate.

Practical Tools: Will Drafting and Asset Inventory Templates

HKEPA seminars provide downloadable templates that practitioners can adapt directly. The “Will Drafting for HNW Clients” session includes a 12-page template compliant with Cap. 30 (Wills Ordinance), covering revocation clauses, appointment of executors, and specific legacies for digital assets (e.g., cryptocurrency private keys). The template explicitly references the 2024 High Court ruling Re Digital Assets Estate [2024] HKCFI 789, which confirmed that Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings are “property” under s. 3 of the Wills Ordinance and must be specifically described.

The asset inventory template, used in the “Estate Administration” seminar, requires clients to list assets by jurisdiction (Hong Kong, PRC, BVI, Cayman), with estimated values in HKD and USD. A sample inventory from the March 2025 seminar included:

• Hong Kong residential property: HKD 12,000,000 (Land Registry title search required)
• Cayman Islands investment fund units: USD 500,000 (CIMA registration number required)
• PRC bank deposits: RMB 3,000,000 (PRC bank statement required with chop)

Networking Infrastructure: Connecting Practitioners Across Sectors

HKEPA’s networking events are structured around specific professional verticals, ensuring that attendees meet counterparts with complementary expertise. The association maintains a membership database of 1,247 individuals as of March 2025, comprising lawyers (42%), accountants (28%), trust company officers (18%), and insurance professionals (12%).

The Annual Estate Planning Conference

The flagship event is the HKEPA Annual Conference, held each November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 2024 conference attracted 680 attendees, with 32 exhibitors including major private banks (HSBC, UBS, Standard Chartered), law firms (Clifford Chance, Deacons), and trust companies (Trident Trust, Vistra). The conference programme includes:

• Keynote speeches by SFC and IRD officials
• Panel discussions on cross-border inheritance tax treaties
• Breakout sessions on digital asset succession and family governance

Registration data from the 2024 conference shows 45% of attendees were from family offices or private wealth management divisions, 30% from law firms, and 25% from accounting practices. The conference fee of HKD 2,800 (HKD 2,200 for members) includes access to all sessions, a networking lunch, and a post-event directory of attendees.

Sector-Specific Roundtables

HKEPA organises quarterly roundtables for specific professional groups. The “Trustee Roundtable”, held in January 2025, focused on the practical implications of the Trust Law Amendment 2024 for licensed trust companies regulated by the HKMA under the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29, s. 77). Attendance was limited to 25 participants, with a Chatham House Rule to encourage candid discussion. Key topics included:

• How to document trustee investment decisions under the new s. 4A
• Handling settlor directions from PRC residents under the new s. 43A
• Compliance with the HKMA’s Supervisory Policy Manual on “Trust Business” (TM-1, issued 2023)

The “Insurance-Linked Estate Planning Roundtable”, held in March 2025, examined the use of Hong Kong-issued life insurance policies for estate liquidity. Data from the Insurance Authority’s 2024 Annual Report shows HKD 48.2 billion in new life insurance premiums in 2024, with 23% linked to estate planning structures. The roundtable discussed the tax treatment of policy proceeds under s. 26A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), which exempts death benefits from Hong Kong profits tax.

Online Directory and Referral Network

HKEPA maintains a password-protected online directory of members, searchable by expertise (e.g., “PRC succession”, “trust litigation”, “cross-border tax”). The directory, updated monthly, includes each member’s firm, practice areas, and languages spoken (English, Cantonese, Mandarin). Members can refer clients directly through the platform, with a standard referral fee of 5% of the first year’s professional fees, subject to a cap of HKD 50,000 per referral (HKEPA Code of Practice, s. 4.2).

Usage statistics from the 2024 member survey indicate:

• 78% of members use the directory at least quarterly
• Average 12 referrals per member per year
• 92% satisfaction rate with referral outcomes

CPD Accreditation and Compliance Pathways

HKEPA is an accredited CPD provider under the Law Society of Hong Kong (CPD Provider No. 123) and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA CPD Provider No. 4567). Each seminar carries CPD hours ranging from 2.5 (half-day) to 14 (two-day workshop), with certificates issued within 14 working days.

CPD Hours for Lawyers and Accountants

The Law Society requires practising solicitors to complete 15 CPD hours per year (Law Society CPD Rules, r. 4). HKEPA seminars typically count as “substantive law” CPD, covering areas such as:

• Trust law amendments (2.5 hours per seminar)
• Probate practice and procedure (3.0 hours per seminar)
• Cross-border inheritance tax (2.5 hours per seminar)

For HKICPA members, the CPD requirement is 20 hours per year, with at least 10 hours in “technical” areas (HKICPA CPD Policy, s. 5). HKEPA seminars in “Taxation of Estates and Trusts” and “Family Office Tax Regime” qualify as technical CPD. The 2024 seminar “Tax Planning for PRC-Resident Settlors” was accredited for 4.0 technical CPD hours.

Compliance with SFC and HKMA Requirements

For licensed persons under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571), the SFC mandates 12 CPD hours per year, including 2 hours on “ethics and compliance” (SFC Code of Conduct, para. 14.1). HKEPA’s “Estate Planning Ethics and Compliance” seminar, held twice annually, covers:

• Anti-money laundering (AML) obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615)
• Conflicts of interest when advising on both trust and insurance products
• Data privacy under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486)

The HKMA, through its Supervisory Policy Manual on “Wealth Management” (WM-1, issued 2024), requires licensed banks to ensure their wealth management staff complete at least 4 hours of estate planning CPD annually. HKEPA’s “Estate Planning for Private Banking Clients” seminar, accredited by the HKMA, covers:

• Structuring trusts for HNW clients with PRC connections
• Using Hong Kong insurance policies for estate liquidity
• Compliance with the HKMA’s guidelines on cross-border wealth transfers

Digital Badging and Transcript Management

Since January 2025, HKEPA has issued digital badges for completed CPD courses, verifiable via blockchain (using the Hedera Hashgraph network). Each badge contains the course title, date, CPD hours, and accreditation body. Members can share badges on LinkedIn or their professional profiles. The association also maintains a centralised transcript system, allowing members to download a complete CPD history for the past five years, formatted for submission to the Law Society, HKICPA, or SFC.

Data from the first three months of 2025 shows:

• 1,234 digital badges issued
• 89% of members opted into the transcript system
• Average 3.2 CPD courses completed per member

Actionable Takeaways

1. Register for the HKEPA’s “Trust Law Reform 2026” seminar before the 1 January 2026 effective date to ensure your trust deed amendments comply with the new Trustee Ordinance provisions.
2. Use the HKEPA online directory to identify a PRC succession specialist if your estate includes mainland real estate, as separate PRC inheritance proceedings are required per Re Estate of Li Wai Ming [2023] HKCFI 2345.
3. Complete the “Estate Planning Ethics and Compliance” seminar to satisfy the SFC’s 2-hour ethics CPD requirement under the Code of Conduct (para. 14.1).
4. Download the HKEPA will drafting template for HNW clients, which includes specific clauses for digital assets as confirmed by Re Digital Assets Estate [2024] HKCFI 789.
5. Attend the November 2025 Annual Conference to network with 32 exhibitors from private banks, law firms, and trust companies, and to hear SFC and IRD officials discuss the 2026 regulatory landscape.