InvestHK Facilitates Over 1,300 Companies, Boosts HK's Economy with HK$160 Billion Investment and 19,000 Jobs

Invest Hong Kong surpasses Policy Address performance indicators, attracts over HK$160 billion in foreign direct investment

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 7) announced that it had assisted over 1 300 overseas and Mainland companies to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong from January 2023 to the first six months of 2025, bringing in foreign direct investment of more than HK$160 billion and creating over 19 000 jobs within the first year of operation or expansion, contributing to the local job market and reaffirming Hong Kong's position as a leading business hub in Asia.

These results demonstrate that InvestHK has achieved ahead of schedule its performance indicators as set out in the 2022 Policy Address. Details are as follows:

KPIs

(From 2023 to 2025)

InvestHK's results

(From January 2023 to the first half of 2025)

No. of companies

at least 1 130 companies

1 301 companies

Direct investment

at least HK$77 billion

HK$168.4 billion

Job opportunities

at least 15 250 jobs

19,136 jobs

The top five locations of origin among the companies assisted span markets in North America, Europe and Asia:

Location of origin

Number

The Mainland

630

Other countries

671

- United States

113

- United Kingdom

89

- Singapore

68

- Canada

38

Among the companies assisted, the top five sectors were as follows:

Sectors

Number (percentage in total)

Financial services and fintech

283 (22 per cent)

Innovation and technology

275 (21per cent)

Family offices

179 (14per cent)

Tourism and hospitality

148 (11per cent)

Business and professional services

129 (10per cent)

In addition, under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), InvestHK is responsible for its financial requirements assessment, while the Immigration Department is responsible for assessing applications for visa/entry permits, extensions of stay and unconditional stays pursuant to the Scheme. Since its launch in March 2024, the key numbers of New CIES as of June 2025 are as follows:

Number of applications

1 548

Number of approvals-in-principle granted (i.e. granting of 180-day visitor visas for making investments)

1 188

Number of applications verified to have fulfilled the investment requirements

712

Number of formal approvals granted

673

Verified investment amount

Over HK$ 21 billion

Expected investment amount to be brought into Hong Kong

Over HK$ 46 billion

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said that amid the challenges from external factors such as the geopolitical situation, this will bring both risks and opportunities to Hong Kong. InvestHK will further build on this strong momentum to deepen mutual engagements between Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas markets. The department will continue to strengthen ties with traditional markets such as Europe, North America and North Asia while actively exploring emerging markets.

Ms Lau said, "Our investment promotion efforts span various industries, aligning with policy directives and closely adhering to the key measures outlined in the Policy Addresses in recent years, such as the low-altitude economy, liquor trade, and the development of the Northern Metropolis. We also assist Mainland companies to go global via Hong Kong and further promote Hong Kong's advantages as a regional trade and high-end logistics hub. We will continue to leverage Hong Kong's role as a two-way springboard for Mainland and overseas companies to connect between our country and the rest of the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle."

She continued, "Looking ahead, we will focus on four strategic sectors, namely financial services and fintech, innovation and technology, supply chain management and logistics, as well as sustainable development and the green economy. We are also committed to leveraging Hong Kong's 'perceptible and experiential' soft power to promote cultural ties, showcasing the city's charm to the world in order to attract foreign investment. This will lead to drive the development of relevant industries and assist enterprises in capital matching through Hong Kong's stable capital market. We will actively promote Hong Kong as a two-way platform for both attracting investments into the city and helping businesses going global."

She added, "This year marks InvestHK's 25th anniversary. Over the past quarter century, we have assisted over 7 700 overseas and Mainland companies from around the world to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong. These companies span a wide range of sectors, including finance, innovation and technology, professional services, and sustainable development, creating over 95 000 jobs and bringing in direct investment of more than HK$440 billion. Hong Kong has always been one of the preferred destinations for global capital. These choices made by investors from around the globe are the strongest vote of confidence in investing in Hong Kong."

Invest Hong Kong surpasses Policy Address performance indicators, attracts over HK$160 billion in foreign direct investment Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to 29 days of imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 58-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (May 22) and seized 1 981 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from him. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $8,100, and the duty potential was about $6,500. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases