The number of Chinese mainland and multinational companies that have opened offices in Hong Kong rose 11 percent to a record high in 2025, as did the number of start-ups, according to survey results released by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday.     

The 2025 Annual Survey of Companies in Hong Kong with Parent Companies Located outside Hong Kong showed that the number of companies from overseas and the mainland rose 11 percent year-on-year to a record 11,070 in 2025.

On the other hand, the number of start-ups also increased 11 percent to 5,221, also a record high, the 2025 Startup Survey showed.

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"Even though geopolitics and the global economic and trade landscape are evolving, Hong Kong has been proactively demonstrating its incomparably unique advantages under the 'one country, two systems' principle, as the best two-way springboard for overseas enterprises to tap into the vast Chinese mainland market and for Chinese mainland enterprises to go global,” said Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah.

He said Hong Kong's advantages will continue to strengthen, accelerating the injection of new impetus to its economy and providing more opportunities for both mainland and overseas companies based in the SAR.

Analyzed by the location of parent company, those from the mainland ranked first (3,090), followed by the United States and Japan (both 1,550), the United Kingdom (770) and Singapore (590).

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They included 5,100 companies in the import/export trade, wholesale and retail sector; 2,390 in the financing and banking sector; and 1,770 in the professional, business and education services sector.

These companies also employed 509,000 workers, an increase of 3 percent year-on-year.

"On another note, the number of start-ups in Hong Kong continues to grow at a double-digit percentage rate, signifying that the city is an ideal place for start-ups to thrive, and demonstrating the great confidence that global start-up entrepreneurs have in Hong Kong,” Yau said.

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“Start-ups can leverage the strengths of Hong Kong - including its concentration of internationally renowned universities and research institutes, entrepreneurial talent, and investors from around the world, as well as a strong local network of incubators and accelerators, to rapidly develop innovation and technology businesses that showcase their strengths," he added.

These 5,221 start-ups engaged 19,753 persons, an increase of 12 percent year-on-year, and spanned different sectors, including financial technology; information, computer and technology; biotechnology; education and learning; and health and medical.