From January to April this year, Invest Hong Kong assisted 223 Mainland and overseas enterprises, representing an increase of 13% relative to the same period last year.

Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan told legislators today that these enterprises are expected to bring in direct investment of over $22.3 billion and create more than 4,900 jobs within their first year of operations or expansion.

More than a quarter of the enterprises indicated they plan to set up international or regional headquarters in Hong Kong, he added.

The top five places of origin of the 223 enterprises are the Mainland, the US, Japan, the UK and Singapore. Meanwhile, the top five sectors are financial services and fintech, family offices, innovation and technology (I&T), tourism and hospitality, and consumer products.

Separately, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), established directly under the Financial Secretary by the current-term Government, has so far attracted 84 strategic enterprises to Hong Kong, many of which plan to establish their international or regional headquarters in the city. OASES was set up in 2022 to attract high-potential and strategic I&T enterprises from around the globe.

Besides attracting enterprises and investment, the current-term Government is also committed to attracting talent from the Mainland and overseas. From January to April this year, over 45,000 new applications under various talent admission schemes were received, with more than 35,000 being approved.

Mr Chan stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to make every effort to attract more enterprises and talent from the Mainland and overseas.