James Li: Introducing 174 billion Hong Kong dollars in direct investment in the first year from 2023 to July this year.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu posted a short video on social media stating that as of the end of July 2025, there were more than 1.5 million locally registered companies in Hong Kong, and over 15,000 non-Hong Kong companies, both reaching record highs. From January 2023 to July of this year, the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency assisted 1,333 companies in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong, attracting HK$174 billion in direct investment in the first year and creating over 19,000 new jobs. John Lee Ka-chiu pointed out that as a unique two-way platform, Hong Kong attracts foreign companies to expand their business and explore the mainland market, as well as helps mainland companies to go global, injecting momentum into the Hong Kong economy. He emphasized that in the face of complex and changing geopolitical challenges and new trade patterns, the government's investment attraction efforts will only become more stable and faster. In addition to the Middle East and ASEAN countries, Hong Kong will continue to develop more potential emerging markets in the future to expand business opportunities for Hong Kong and mainland businesses, balance investment portfolios, and resist challenges. According to him, the Singapore indoor theme park Kiztopia opened its first overseas flagship store in Hong Kong in 2022 and has since expanded to 4 branches, with plans to add two more. Wu Xiaochun, Kiztopia's Hong Kong district director, stated that the Hong Kong consumer market is strong and important due to its high-quality concepts, creativity, and services, and the company values Hong Kong's influence in the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the mainland artificial intelligence company CityBrain Technology set up its international headquarters in Hong Kong in February last year, providing smart transportation and logistics solutions to 28 countries and regions worldwide. CityBrain Technology CEO Yang Ming, who accompanied the Chief Executive on a visit to the Middle East in May this year, believes that Hong Kong is the best choice for mainland technology companies to go global, as the visit helped understand other countries' logistics planning and cooperation policies.