Key facts
- US and UK firms are leading foreign investment into Hong Kong this year.
- Hong Kong's asset management sector holds over HK$35 trillion in assets.
- The number of foreign companies with overseas parent firms in Hong Kong increased by 10% to 9,960.
- 75% of US firms surveyed consider Hong Kong a top Asian business hub.
- 83% of US firms surveyed have confidence in Hong Kong's rule of law.
- 70% of US firms surveyed reported no impact from the National Security Law on their business.
Companies from the United States and the United Kingdom are among the primary sources of inbound foreign capital into Hong Kong this year, according to the city's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau Ying-wah. Yau emphasized Hong Kong's enduring appeal to businesses, stating "money is money," despite ongoing geopolitical instability.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Yau acknowledged that 2026 presented challenges due to the geopolitical situation. However, he highlighted the city's strengths, as detailed in its "Business Environment Report." Hong Kong's asset management sector has seen substantial growth, reaching over HK$35 trillion in total assets by the end of last year, a 13% increase. This performance positions it ahead of Singapore and aims to surpass Switzerland as the world's largest asset hub by 2027.
The number of foreign companies with overseas parent firms operating in Hong Kong has risen by 10% to 9,960 in the past year. The government's Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, established in late 2022, has successfully attracted 84 high-value firms, many in technology sectors. InvestHK, the business attraction agency, facilitated the setup or expansion of over 1,300 mainland and overseas firms from January 2023 to mid-2025, securing HK$160 billion in foreign direct investment.
Locally, Hong Kong's startup ecosystem is also thriving, with a record 4,700 homegrown startups in 2024, a 10% increase. The city has also attracted significant talent, with over 220,000 new professionals relocating there by June this year through various admission schemes.
Contrary to some Western media narratives, a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong indicated that 75% of US firms still consider Hong Kong a top Asian business hub. Confidence in the city's rule of law has risen to 83%, and nearly 80% of respondents do not plan to relocate their regional headquarters. Furthermore, approximately 70% of these firms reported that the National Security Law has had no impact on their daily operations.