InvestHK's Mike Rowse presenting the report that shows the number of regional operations in Hong Kong remains at an all-time high

The 2005 survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department indicated there was a 5 per cent increase over last year - there were 1,167 companies that had regional headquarters (RHQs) and 2,6 31 with regional offices (ROs) in Hong Kong. 

The US topped the list with 262 American companies which had RHQs in Hong Kong followed by Japan with 204 companies and the UK with 115 companies. Most of the companies are involved in wholesale, retail and import/export trades; business services and transport and related services.

The director-general of investment promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mike Rowse, said it was encouraging to see the surge in regional RHQs and ROs in Hong Kong in the past year. "Hong Kong is now host to over 6,200 overseas and Chinese mainland companies - strong evidence that international businesses continue to prefer managing their regional operations from our city." 

He added: "The results also point to Hong Kong's traditional advantages - including a low and simple tax system, free flow of information and absence of exchange controls - as the most important reasons that investors choose Hong Kong for their regional operations."

Details in Regional operations in Hong Kong reached all time-highs