Hong Kong hosted 11,070 companies with parent companies located elsewhere in 2025, a record high number and an 11% increase on the previous year, according to an annual survey.

The survey was jointly conducted by Invest Hong Kong and the Census & Statistics Department. Analysed by parent company location, the top five sources of firms from outside Hong Kong last year were the Chinese Mainland, the US, Japan, the UK and Singapore. Moreover, the top 10 locations all recorded increases.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau said all of the companies from the top countries of origin have shown a healthy growth over the previous year.

“This shows that despite the general economic situation around the world and despite geopolitics, Hong Kong is a prime destination to do business and to manage your regional business out of.”

The survey looked at companies that either have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong or have a regional or local office here. In all three categories, there were increases. 

Notably, the number of registered regional headquarters increased by 7% in 2025, marking a second consecutive year of growth.

A global Swiss precious metals firm opened its new regional headquarters in Hong Kong in October last year, seeking to leverage the city’s position as a premier international gold trading centre to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

The firm’s Chief Executive Officer James Emmett explained why they believed Hong Kong was the best place for their regional base.

“Hong Kong provided us with that accessibility, with the support, the focus from a government policy perspective.

“But really importantly it is a dynamic forward-looking city that we genuinely believe has the opportunity to be the hub for gold and for gold trading in this region.

Meanwhile, a world-leading digital bank founded in Shenzhen has sited the headquarters of its technology subsidiary in Hong Kong and plans to create high-skilled technology jobs in the city.

The general manager of the bank’s technology affiliate Chen Jing said the firm chose Hong Kong on the basis of trust.

He said Hong Kong is a major international financial centre whose unique advantages – such as its strategic location, vast market potential and favourable policies – make it the preferred platform for Mainland companies seeking to go global.

Mr Chen added that in recent years the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has strengthened the city’s role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”.

Remarking that Hong Kong is backed by the Chinese Mainland and located within the Greater Bay Area, whilst also being closely integrated with the international community, he said the city’s interconnectedness was a major reason for setting up here.