Hong Kong Invest Hong Kong Agency: Under the third and fourth waves of the epidemic, Hong Kong companies stationed in Hong Kong still reach new highs

　　[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to Hong Kong's "Sing Tao Daily" report on the 25th, Invest Hong Kong announced relevant statistics that last year, the team completed 333 investment projects from 42 economies around the world, an increase of 5% year-on-year, creating more than 3000 jobs.

Under the third and fourth wave of the epidemic last year, companies based outside Hong Kong still reached new highs.

　　According to Invest Hong Kong Director General Fu Zhongsen, the most investment projects are from the Mainland, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Germany; the industries involved are very even, with innovation and technology first, followed by fintech, finance and financial affairs.

Although the tourism and hotel industry has been severely affected by the epidemic, there are still international catering groups that are interested in investing in Hong Kong, because rents have fallen, which has reduced investment costs.

He said that companies attach importance to long-term opportunities and have confidence in Hong Kong. The "dynamic clearing" policy and the implementation of Hong Kong's national security law have not had a significant impact, causing divestment.

　　Fu Zhongsen quoted the department's data as of the beginning of June last year, showing that the number of overseas companies in Hong Kong reached 9,049 last year, a record high, and the number of regional headquarters in Hong Kong was 1,457. Last year, there were 3,755 start-ups in Hong Kong, compared with 2017. An annual increase of more than 68%.

The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced earlier that as of June 1 last year, the number of U.S. companies headquartered in Hong Kong had dropped by nearly 10% year-on-year to 254, a record low in 18 years; the number of Japanese-funded companies in Hong Kong also dropped by 7% % to 210.

Fu Zhongsen said that the reasons for the change in the number of foreign companies are complicated. For example, the economic challenges brought about by the epidemic may also be due to the frequent global mergers and acquisitions activities last year. Some companies were acquired and therefore changed their registration places. .

　　Fu Zhongsen admitted that the "dynamic clearing" policy will inevitably bring challenges to enterprises and employees, but the business community has realized that the challenges may last for a period of time, and has responded through technology.

He said some companies have extended staff time abroad to avoid spending a lot of time in isolation.

He said that although it is difficult to track the data of company withdrawals, he has not heard of large-scale closures and withdrawals of companies, and some companies have adjusted their operations in Hong Kong.

　　Meanwhile, data show that Hong Kong ranks third in the world in foreign direct investment (FDI).

Fu Zhongsen said that enterprises attach importance to long-term opportunities in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has the advantages of the Greater Bay Area. In the future, Hong Kong will still be a bridge to the mainland and international markets, and will play an important role as an international financial center.

In addition, many mainland companies plan to raise funds in Hong Kong, and some companies plan to withdraw from the US market and return. It is believed that the number of mainland companies investing in Hong Kong will continue to increase.

　　Previously, the latest survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong also showed that 41% of American companies expressed "very optimistic" and "optimistic" confidence in their business prospects in the next 12 months, and 23% were "very pessimistic" and "pessimistic".

This shows that US companies have greatly improved the business environment in Hong Kong last year.

(Yang Weimin)