19th Asian Financial Forum opened

The 19th Asian Financial Forum commenced at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Chief Executive John Lee delivered the opening address of the 2-say event. He said the number of mainland and overseas companies based in Hong Kong exceeded 10,000 last year, a year-on-year increase of 11%, setting a new record.

The Asian Financial Forum was co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Chief Executive John Lee, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Zhou Ji, and others attended.

This year's event features the first-ever "Global Business Summit," attracting over 3,600 political and business leaders from around the world.

In his address, John Lee said:

“It is a great pleasure to be with you today - and so many of you, I'm delighted to see. Over these next two days, more than 3 600 are expected - high-profile finance and business leaders, visionary investors and entrepreneurs, senior policymakers, academics, economists and many other respected decision-makers, from more than 60 countries and regions.

The inaugural Global Business Summit is among the many highlights of this year's Forum. Designed to encourage deeper financial and industrial co-operation, it will be held throughout tomorrow, day two of the AFF.

Both days, with their panel discussions, plenaries, thematic workshops, fireside chats and other sessions, are organised under the tagline "Finance Empowering Business" and overall theme, "Co-creating New Horizons amid an Evolving Landscape".

Featuring more than 150 prominent speakers, from Hong Kong, throughout the Asian region and around the world, the Forum will inspire insight and innovation, create partnerships and explore fresh business opportunities.

I can't think of a better way to ring in this New Year, with its daunting issues and, yes, its boundless opportunities.

Speaking of "boundless opportunities", allow me a few minutes to update you on Hong Kong, what we're doing and what we're planning to realise our far-reaching financial and business promise.

It begins with "one country, two systems", the unique principle that assures us of the unwavering support of China, our country, while continuing to expand our global markets and reach. This unparalleled positioning solidifies our institutional strengths: the rule of law, a judiciary that exercises its power independently, an open and transparent market, the free flow of capital and a low and simple tax regime.

These have ensured Hong Kong thrives as a top destination for enterprises that seek to grow and develop, in an environment that's safe and convenient to do business. You don't just have to take my word for it.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we welcome the New Year, I am pleased to announce to you all, a truly international audience, that Hong Kong has made unprecedented achievements in the past year - in attracting quality businesses to our city.

According to our annual survey, the number of foreign- and Mainland-affiliated companies in Hong Kong was 11 070 in 2025, up 11 per cent from the year before. That's a record high number of firms with their parent companies located outside Hong Kong.

We've seen a robust growth of companies coming from a wide range of places. For example, those from Singapore, France, Australia, the United States and Switzerland have all risen by over 11 per cent. Companies from countries in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Middle East have also grown by some 10 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, Mainland Chinese companies here have grown a whopping 17 per cent. Together, these enterprises from around the world hired nearly 510 000 people - more than half a million - in Hong Kong, up 3 per cent from 2024.

We do more than bring in companies - we're also good at nurturing them. Last year, the number of start-ups in Hong Kong grew to over 5 200, again a record-breaking high, and up 11 per cent from 2024.

Our start-ups hired nearly 20 000 people in Hong Kong; that's a 12 per cent growth year on year. And like our companies, our non-local entrepreneurs come from a large variety of places, with half of them coming mainly from the UK, the US, France and different Asian countries, and the other half from the Mainland.

The encouraging results represent more than a vote of confidence in Hong Kong by these businesses and entrepreneurs. They also mean our solid efforts in facilitating business establishment and operation, and in creating an enabling ecosystem for start-ups, are bearing fruit.”