Hong Kong-based firms see information-technology and telecommunications investment as a key to tapping mainland business opportunities following China's World Trade Organisation accession. In a recent study by global market information research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres, about half the 185 companies surveyed said they planned to invest in IT and telecoms solutions for their mainland businesses in the next year. Senior executives from the 185 Hong Kong-based companies participated in the survey earlier this month, of these 60 per cent were from domestic companies and 40 per cent from multinationals and mainland-based companies. The survey found that 43 per cent had increased investment in the China market over the past year in the light of its accession to the WTO last December. A total of 78 per cent of senior executives surveyed believed China's WTO entry was an opportunity for their companies. The survey found that basic IT and telecoms technology and hardware remained the key investment areas.
