REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File PhotoHONG KONG, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Citigroup's (C.N) Asia family office business expects a 25% increase in clients this year, the U.S. bank's regional head of its family office advisory business said, as Singapore and Hong Kong vie to attract more wealth. Global banks have been beefing up family office arms in Asia, as demand continues to surge among rich Asians wanting to set up private investment vehicles and plan for business succession. Citi in 2020 turned its Asia family office service into a full-fledged unit combining advisory, family governance, legacy planning, philanthropy, investment and deal-making capabilities for ultra-wealthy clients. "We have seen great interest from China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia in settling their family offices here (Hong Kong)," Ong said, adding there was also growing interest from Middle Eastern clients. There is scale and Singapore is becoming more discerning about the type of family offices it wants to attract," Ong said.

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Persons: Athit, HONG KONG, Faye Ong, Ong, Faye, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Citi, REUTERS, Reuters, Global, Accenture, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, HONG, Asia, U.S, Singapore, Hong Kong, China , Hong Kong, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Hong