CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) Bonnie Chan said on Wednesday that more than 150 companies are lining up to list in the city, thanks to surging interest from mainland firms seeking to explore foreign markets.

Chan said many companies eye offshore fundraising platforms to boost foreign currency reserves to support their overseas market plans.

At the Greater China Private Equity Summit, Chan said some mainland firms listed in the US are also weighing up "homecoming" plans, amid de-listing threats by some US lawmakers.

"There are still obviously some big names," Chan said.

"I met with many of them in the past few weeks, and they share with me that their shareholders are very keen to make sure that they have a plan B.

"That threat of de-listing may never realise, but it's good to have a plan B," she told participants of a forum.

Unicorns and innovative companies are also interested in listing in the SAR, Chan added, noting that the city's stock exchange operator has been carrying out reforms to assist such firms.

Separately, Chan noted that Hong Kong-listed firms, with their attractive valuations and solid fundamentals, can seize the opportunity to attract global capital, as quality funds and investors are reassessing their investment portfolio allocations following volatilities stemming from a recent retreat in US dollar-denominated assets.

She cited examples such as the latest successful listing of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) that has attracted investors from the Middle East and Europe, noting that stable and certain policies are one of the key considerations when global funds re-allocate their investments.