Business & Finance

Outside businesses hit new record

(October 26, 2015)

The number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas and on the Mainland has reached an all-time high of 7,904 this year, up 4.2% on last year, according to an annual survey by Invest Hong Kong and the Census & Statistics Department.
 
In terms of source country or territory, the US topped the list with 1,368 companies in Hong Kong. Two others in the top 10 were the Mainland and Taiwan, with the former registering the strongest growth of 14%.
 
More than 1,400 of the operations are regional headquarters, 2,397 are regional offices and 4,106 are local offices.
 
They employ a record 422,000 people - up 4.3% on last year.
 
Director-General of Investment Promotion Simon Galpin said as the Mainland continues to open its economy and on the back of the Belt & Road initiative, Hong Kong will continue to be the super-connector helping the nation in its gradual economic reform, generating many new business opportunities.
 
Chinese and overseas companies are using Hong Kong to access opportunities across the Mainland and the world, so global macro-economic factors can have an impact, he added.