Ronnie O'Sullivan explains move as he is granted residency outside UK

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been granted residency in Hong Kong, hailing the Chinese city’s food, culture and tax rate.

The Rocket has been given residency through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, as confirmed by immigration director Benson Kwok in a social media video posted on Thursday.

On being congratulated on becoming a resident, the seven-time world champion was asked why he chose Hong Kong as his new ‘place of residence’.

‘I’ve spent a lot of time in Hong Kong. I’ve had many really nice trips here, got some good friends here, I enjoy my stay here,’ said O’Sullivan.

‘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.’

Ronnie O'Sullivan seen after the final match of Hong Kong — O’Sullivan won the Hong Kong Masters in front of around 9,000 fans in October 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)

Speaking at the launch of the event, he said of his focus on Asia, via MacauBusiness: ‘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.

‘If you work a long time in a certain place you need to make it as comfortable as possible.

‘Hong Kong is just the start for me. I know some people in Hong Kong and they said, “We want to try and make this possible for you”. Maybe Macau will be the next one because obviously I have some friends in Macau that are saying it’s a good idea to do something in Macau as well.’