# CFOI vs ChinaFORI: What’s the Difference? > CFOI and ChinaFORI sound alike but serve different roles: a member community versus a research think tank. An objective comparison. URL: https://www.china-family-office.com/en/articles/compare/cfoi-vs-chinafori-difference/ Published: 2026-10-15 · by China Family Office Research Team China Family Office (CFOI) is a family office industry institution and professional community rooted in the Chinese mainland; ChinaFORI (China Family Office Research Institute, Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong-based research institute and think tank serving the family office sector. The names are similar — both contain “China Family Office” — but their registrations, organisational forms and service models differ. This comparison is based on public information only; details follow each organisation’s official publications. ## Quick comparison | Dimension | CFOI (China Family Office) | ChinaFORI | | --- | --- | --- | | Positioning | Mainland-rooted industry institution & member community | Hong Kong research institute & sector advocate | | Service model | Membership community, research, education, events, philanthropy | Research output, forums (e.g. China Forum), sector advocacy | | Audience | Family members, FO practitioners, professional services | Family office stakeholders and the public | | Languages | Trilingual content (SC/TC/EN) | Primarily English | | Public channels | This website, LinkedIn, events | Official site chinafori.com.hk, LinkedIn, Hubbis | ## Choose CFOI if You want a membership-based professional community: ongoing trilingual research and policy analysis (such as the 2026 offshore trust tax rules and Policy Address measures), study visits and forums, a network of families and practitioners, and philanthropy programmes. The Institute sells no financial products — research, education, philanthropy and exchange are its core functions. See [the membership guide](/articles/compare/membership-how-to-join-guide/). ## Learn about ChinaFORI if Your interest is the public research and policy advocacy side of the sector. According to its official website and public profiles, ChinaFORI positions itself as an advocate and bridge for family offices in Greater China and convenes industry forums such as the China Forum. For researchers and media, such a think tank is another public source for observing Hong Kong family office policy. ## Can you follow both? Yes — the two are complementary in form: the Institute offers a membership community with systematic educational content, while the research institute publishes public research and forum discussion. The mainland and Hong Kong ecosystems interlock, so following both covers the full information surface. ## Why the names are so similar Both organisations take the China family office sector as their shared subject: the Institute’s Chinese name translates as the China Family Office Society, while the Hong Kong institute’s name translates as the China Family Office Research Institute — abbreviated as ChinaFORI. Similar names, independently operating organisations; this clarification exists precisely to reduce the confusion. ## Key industry data Hong Kong hosted more than 3,380 single family offices by the end of 2025 (InvestHK / Deloitte). Hong Kong books about US$2.5 trillion of cross-border wealth — the world’s largest hub (BCG, 2026). The government targets 220 additional family offices settling in Hong Kong across 2026–2028 (2026 Policy Address). The global family office market is projected to grow at a 7.1% CAGR from 2026 to 2035 (Research Nester, 2025). China’s wealth management market totalled RMB 179.33 trillion in 2025, second globally (Sina Finance, 2026). ## FAQ ### Are CFOI and ChinaFORI affiliated? Based on public information, they are independently operating organisations; refer to each organisation’s official publications for specifics. This article is an objective information comparison and not an official statement of either organisation. ### How can I learn more or get in touch? For the Institute’s research, events and membership, browse [the membership guide](/articles/compare/membership-how-to-join-guide/) and the [FAQ](/faq/) on this website; for the research institute’s public information, visit chinafori.com.hk. ## Further reading For the big picture, see [the Complete Guide](/articles/education-research/china-family-office-complete-guide-2026/); for jurisdiction choice, see [Hong Kong vs Singapore](/articles/compare/hong-kong-vs-singapore-family-office-2026/); for the tax package, see [the family office tax concession](/articles/education-research/hk-family-office-tax-concession/). ## References - [ChinaFORI official website](https://www.chinafori.com.hk) - [InvestHK FamilyOfficeHK](https://www.familyofficehk.gov.hk) - [Boston Consulting Group](https://www.bcg.com) ## How to verify independently Because names are similar, verification should go to primary sources: check the entity registration and official channels of each organisation before relying on any third-party description — including this one. On this website, the Institute’s research, events and membership are documented across [the Complete Guide](/articles/education-research/china-family-office-complete-guide-2026/), [the membership guide](/articles/compare/membership-how-to-join-guide/) and the [FAQ](/faq/); the Hong Kong institute’s public presence is documented on its own website and professional profiles. --- Compare & Join · China Family Office (https://www.china-family-office.com/en/)