THE number of foreign firms opening regional bases, including regional headquarters facilities in Hongkong, leapt 53 per cent last year, a private survey of government industry department figures shows.
The survey reveals that the number of general regional offices in the territory is on average doubling by country.
But there is a trend towards a decline in the number of regional headquarters being established in the territory.
For regional headquarters, the number identified in the survey fell slightly to 588 from 602.
But the number of regional offices rose dramatically, to 757 from 278, up 172 per cent.
The survey was carried out by the political and economic section of a consulate general in Hongkong, which wanted to remain anonymous.