More outside firms operate in HK: survey

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More outside firms operate in HK: survey

(Xinhua) 19:25, October 23, 2013

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The number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas and on the Chinese mainland grew 2.7 percent year on year to 7,449 in 2013, according to an official survey results released Wednesday.

In terms of source country or territory, Japan topped the survey with 1,389 companies in Hong Kong, a gain of 14 percent. Two others among the top five were China's mainland and Taiwan, according to the survey conducted by the Invest Hong Kong and the Census & Statistics Department.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Simon Galpin said that the survey findings showed Hong Kong's robustness, particularly for its regional neighbors.

"Japan has become the number one source of foreign companies that are based here and has overtaken the U.S. for the first time since 2001. So it is quite significant and the growth is also significant. We are seeing Japanese companies in a wide variety of sectors, in transportation and logistics. A very strong number are in food-related businesses," Galpin said, adding that it is an encouraging trend and hopes it will continue.

The survey found Hong Kong's simple tax system and low tax rate, free flow of information, geographical location, free port status, rule of law, and independent judiciary as influential factors in companies' choosing to open headquarters here.

（Editor：DuMingming、Zhang Qian）