Ronnie O'Sullivan cites 'tax advantages' for ditching UK and taking Hong Kong residency
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has admitted the 'low tax' in Hong Kong played a role in his decision to ditch the UK and take up residency in the Chinese city.
The seven-time world snooker champion was granted residency though Hong Kong's Quality Migrant Admission Scheme - an initiative to help attract highly skilled individuals to settle there.
Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon is hopeful O'Sullivan's move would encourage 'other high fliers to consider the city'.
The 48-year-old further explained that the food and the culture in Hong Kong were deciding factors in his decision.
However, he also pointed to Hong Kong's highest rate of income tax being just 16 per cent as another reason for his move.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken up residency in Hong Kong
PA"I’ve spent a lot of time in Hong Kong," said O'Sullivan.
"I’ve had many really nice trips here, got some good friends here, I enjoy my stay here.
"Obviously snooker is very popular here as well. Obviously, like myself, someone travelling from another country, the tax is also a good thing.
"But your food, your culture, it’s a great place to live, a great place to be.
"If you want to live a life, a good life, you should come to Hong Kong.
"My plan in Hong Kong is obviously to do some work, but I love the food, I love just relaxing here in Hong Kong, and maybe go and play some snooker.
"It’s just really nice to be back in Hong Kong again."
His move comes after Hong Kong's World Grand Prix was upgraded to a ranking event on the World Snooker Tour next year, which will be held at the Kai Tak Sports Park in March.
He also competes in several exhibition events in the city as well as mainland China.
"I probably do about 70 per cent of my work in China and Asia now, so I have to make a life here, I have to make a home," he added.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is also a fan of the food and culture
PA"If you work a long time in a certain place you need to make it as comfortable as possible."
O'Sullivan also admitted he had been thinking about the move for the 'last five or six years'.
Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council chairman, Vincent Law Wing-chung, initially thought O'Sullivan was 'joking' when he first mentioned the idea of moving to the city.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan feels the move made sense
PA“Previously when he came to Hong Kong, he went to run on those mountain trails, so he always had good feelings towards the city,” Law said.
“He used to say there was a lot of driving for him to do that in the United Kingdom.
“So Hong Kong is a really convenient place for him because he loved running so much that he was almost crazy about it, and the fans and residents here have always been so enthusiastic about him.”
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