Hong Kong will announce a new list of key companies to be introduced tomorrow, covering many multi-billion dollar companies in the AI field.

On April 19, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in a blog post that a new batch of key enterprises will be introduced the following day (April 20), including several companies with market values exceeding billions of dollars in areas such as life health technology, low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence, new energy materials, cross-border financial infrastructure, and financial technology. Among them, the life health technology companies are globally leading and will conduct clinical research in Hong Kong, which is expected to further support Hong Kong's position in the international medical research field. Many companies will also establish research and development centers, financial centers, and regional headquarters in Hong Kong, further solidifying Hong Kong's role as a key hub connecting mainland China and global markets, and fostering a more vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong. The introduction of key enterprises has previously attracted over 100 key enterprises, including those in life health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, as well as cultural and technological innovation fields. These enterprises come from mainland China and various locations in Europe and the United States, demonstrating Hong Kong's superior business and innovation environment, and its attractiveness as a bridge between mainland China and international markets. Currently, more than half of these enterprises (52) have been listed, with another 16 preparing for listing; around 90% (89) have established or are in the process of establishing research and development centers; three-quarters of the enterprises (76) have set up global or regional headquarters in Hong Kong. The substantial contributions these enterprises are bringing to the Hong Kong economy are gradually becoming apparent. They have collectively invested over HK$22.5 billion, exceeding the expected figures by more than 30%; they have created over 8,000 jobs. These jobs cover various high-value-added sectors such as research, artificial intelligence, medical health, cybersecurity, and professional services. As of March this year, the total commercial and industrial floor area used by the key enterprises amounts to 2.6 million square feet, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the continuous expansion of their research and development, production, and operational activities in Hong Kong. Apart from their direct economic contributions, what is equally important is that the majority of these enterprises that have settled in have collaborated with local universities, research institutions, and companies to promote closer cooperation between industry, academia, and research in Hong Kong. At the same time, they are driving technological applications in different local contexts and exploring internationalization efforts, contributing to the technological upgrading of Hong Kong's industries and the development of smart cities. Looking ahead, Paul Chan Mo-po stated that efforts will continue to be made to attract more high-quality enterprises to Hong Kong, providing more precise policy support to facilitate their development in Hong Kong and promote the deep integration of innovation chains, industrial chains, and capital chains. By attracting overseas enterprises and enhancing the cultivation of local startups in parallel, Hong Kong will accelerate the construction of a more diversified, resilient, and internationally competitive industrial structure, playing a more proactive role in the overall high-quality development of the country and injecting sustained and powerful new impetus into its own economy.