Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency: Over 310 enterprises have settled or expanded their businesses in Hong Kong this year, with more than half of them being mainland Chinese enterprises.

The Director of the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Bureau, Liu Kaixuan, stated that as of early May, the Bureau has assisted more than 310 companies to set up in Hong Kong or expand their business in Hong Kong, with a first-year direct investment amount of over HK$26 billion. Among them, Chinese companies account for over half, believed to be driven by the establishment of the "Mainland Enterprises Going Global Special Taskforce" by the Hong Kong SAR government. Regarding the Chief Executive's Policy Address which requires the Bureau to introduce 1,200 companies to set up in Hong Kong within two years from last year to this year, Liu Kaixuan mentioned in a radio program that the Bureau had assisted around 560 companies to set up in Hong Kong last year and believed that the target can be achieved smoothly. She also mentioned that when companies choose to set up in Hong Kong, they not only consider factors such as the business environment, low tax regime, legal foundation, but also Hong Kong's advantages including new policies and platforms launched by the government, such as the development of the Northern Metropolis, which can attract companies to develop technology innovation, high-end production, etc. The Bureau will discuss with companies the possibility of setting up in the Northern Metropolis. In addition, policies such as bulk commodity trading, family offices, etc., have become effective investment attraction tools. Regarding the recent meeting between the leaders of China and the United States, Liu Kaixuan mentioned that the Chinese side agreed to visit this autumn, and the market expects a few months of stability during the visit. She also pointed out that during the China-US trade war, Hong Kong demonstrated its ability to quickly adapt and maintain its traditional advantage as a stable international financial center. Regarding the uncertainty in the Middle East, Liu Kaixuan stated that despite ongoing conflicts leading to energy price fluctuations, affecting global transportation and small and medium-sized enterprises, Hong Kong can still take advantage of the situation. She mentioned that small and medium-sized enterprises are directly affected in terms of transportation and the pace of Chinese companies moving towards the Middle East has slowed down. Funds from the Middle East are increasingly looking to invest in Hong Kong to seek a stable foothold. Additionally, due to the changing situation in the Middle East, the preference for Dubai as a Middle East hub has shifted, with Central Asia and London now reconsidering, presenting Hong Kong with opportunities to attract funds and international talent.