Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday said some 50 "strategic, high-powered" companies had recently established, or expanded their businesses in Hong Kong, fostering the city's development in the innovation and technology sector.

Speaking at a signing ceremony involving the government's Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) and 25 companies - mainly from the artificial intelligence, data science and fin tech sectors - Lee said their decision to turn to Hong Kong meant more than HK$40 billion being invested in the economy and the creation of some 13,000 jobs over the next few years.

"Their presence here will create an important momentum, and help to attract a wealth of partners and related companies to Hong Kong. In turn, they will bolster our fast-rising innovation and technology sector," he added.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said OASES would meet at least 300 prominent companies across the globe to lure them to invest in the city.

Chan also stressed that the government was committed to boosting the innovation and technology sector.

"We will continue to support R&D (research and development) to drive the commercialisation of research outcomes, as well as new industrialisation. We will continue to nurture local start-ups and talents, enhance STEM education, and boost the compelling collaboration with our sister cities in the Greater Bay Area," he added.

PayCargo - a US logistics payment platform operator - was among those which recently signed a partnership with the city.

Its commercial director in Asia, Morgan Law, told reporters that Hong Kong remained attractive to investors as the mainland had been one of the greatest markets for logistics over the last couple of decades.

"No matter what, mainland China is the largest origin market for a lot of our customers, which are international logistics companies where they all have businesses in mainland China,"

"We believe that Hong Kong is in a very good state, and provides a very stable platform for us to grow in Hong Kong and beyond," he explained.