Hong Kong is Chinese firms’ top pick for overseas services base

Nearly all plan to expand ASEAN activities, and less than half target Europe, US, and Canada.

Hong Kong is mainland Chinese companies’ top choice to access services needed for their overseas expansion plans, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

According to the HKTDC survey, 83% of enterprises saw Hong Kong as their first choice of services platform, followed by mainland China (78%) and Singapore (31%).

Services sought from Hong Kong include marketing, legal and accounting advisory, financing and risk management, supply chain management, research and development, product standards and even ESG-related support.

Of the respondents, 82% have plans to expand their existing overseas operations, whilst 63% are focused on developing new overseas business activities.

Meanwhile, 54% plan to enhance their overseas sourcing operations, whilst 47% aim to expand their overseas sales networks, and 36% intend to enhance their overseas technology cooperation programmes.

Nearly all (91%) of respondents prioritise expanding their existing ASEAN activities, particularly Singapore (49%), Vietnam (46%), Thailand (44%) and Malaysia (41%).

Less than half intend to target Europe’s more advanced markets (48%) and the US and Canada (47%).

Interest in the Middle East rose to 46% from 33% in 2023, and those looking to expand into Latin America are now at 34% from 17% three years ago.

“Compared with the 2023 survey, companies evidenced a far greater overall inclination to target all of the major overseas markets,” the HKTDC said in a statement in August 2026.