Over 80 percent of surveyed Chinese mainland enterprises plan to expand their existing overseas operations, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emerging as their preferred service platform, according to research by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) released on Tuesday.

According to the report, 83 percent of respondents named Hong Kong as their top choice for professional services, closely followed by the Chinese mainland at 78 percent. Singapore ranked third with 31 percent.

“As the first-choice professional services hub for the majority of the surveyed enterprises, Hong Kong’s unique connectivity and unrivalled expertise ensure it is playing an ever more significant role in helping Chinese mainland business seize global opportunities,” said Bruce Pang, director of HKTDC Research.

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The research conducted by the HKTDC, the trade promotion agency of the SAR government, included interviews with over 2,000 Chinese mainland enterprises, of which 82 percent said they plan to expand their existing overseas business operations, while 63 percent said they will focus on developing new overseas business activities.

Evolving external and internal environments continue to drive global expansion for mainland companies. Around a quarter of the surveyed companies reported that they were significantly affected by changes in US trade policy, while intensifying competition from other regions (61 percent) and rising costs (51 percent) are also major drivers pushing global expansion plans.

As overseas strategies extend into higher value-added areas, demand for specialized professional support services has continued to grow, according to Wing Chu, deputy director of HKTDC Research.

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Key needs highlighted by surveyed companies include market and sales intelligence, legal compliance consultation, as well as global payments and financial management assistance. “These challenges underline the growing need for professional services support,” Chu said. “That’s why enterprises need Hong Kong during this process.”

“Hong Kong serves as a superconnector and super value-adder, offering diverse services across finance, law, accounting, and risk management,” said Pang. “These offerings perfectly match with the Chinese mainland’s plan to expand further into overseas markets, reflecting the uniqueness and competitiveness of Hong Kong.”

In October 2025, the HKSAR government launched the GoGlobal Task Force, integrating the city’s financial, business network and government resources to provide support for enterprises expanding overseas.

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Building on this effort, the GoGlobal Connect initiative was launched by the HKTDC this April to establish a cross-sectoral professional services platform, bridging mainland enterprises and Hong Kong service providers throughout their international expansion journeys.

Additionally, among all the interviewed enterprises, 94 percent indicated an interest in developing business in the Belt and Road market, representing an increase on the 73 percent recorded for a comparable survey three years ago, according to the research report.

“With many of these opportunities now stemming from the Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) economies, next month’s Belt and Road Summit is certain to bolster cross-regional cooperation and help mainland businesses find the ideal Hong Kong partner for their global expansion plans,” said Pang.

Jointly organized by the government of the HKSAR and the HKTDC, the 11th Belt and Road Summit will take place in September, featuring a newly introduced “GoGlobal Connect” zone to showcase service offerings from professional sectors in Hong Kong.

Contact the writer at rayjia@chinadailyhk.com