The government department responsible for attracting foreign investment on Monday expressed optimism that American companies will continue to be attracted to set up shop in Hong Kong after Donald Trump begins his second term in office.

InvestHK said of the record 539 non-local companies it helped establish or expand in the SAR last year, US firms were the second biggest group, following those from the mainland.

The department's director-general, Alpha Lau, said while it remains to be seen what the incoming US administration's policies will be, companies from many American industries will still come to Hong Kong in search of profit.

"Because in the end, American companies are very pragmatic, very practical. And the growth is in Asia, and in mainland China," she told a press conference.

"So if they want to look for business opportunities and growth, then this is where they want to be."

Lau said Hong Kong is seen as a testing ground or springboard for foreign companies seeking to enter the mainland market.

The director-general expressed optimism that her department can meet the government target of attracting 1,130 companies to the SAR in the three-year period ending this year.

The firms last year created more than 6,800 jobs in Hong Kong, with total investment reaching HK$67.7 billion, around 10 percent more than in 2023, InvestHK said.

The top five sectors were innovation technology, finance, family offices, tourism and professional services.