A government agency whose primary goal is to lure foreign direct investment into Hong Kong says it is ready to do the opposite - help mainland firms expand overseas by utilising the city's global network of industry specialists and offices.
InvestHK, the SAR's official investment promotion agency, was told to take part in Beijing's push to help enterprises "go global", under the latest Policy Address delivered by Chief Executive John Lee this month.
The government will set up a one-stop platform and mobilise InvestHK's overseas and mainland offices, as well as those by the Trade Development Council.
A "GoGlobal Task Force" led by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau will also be established to coordinate efforts by relevant bureaus and departments drafting proposals for enterprises looking to invest overseas.
In an exclusive interview with RTHK, InvestHK director-general Alpha Lau said her agency boasts a staff network based in 34 cities worldwide, serving key target markets.
"In the past we probably focused a little more time on the 'bringing in' part to Hong Kong, but we need to be able for them to succeed overseas for them to come to Hong Kong more," Lau said.
Going forward, she added, InvestHK will study how it could "better make use of this network for coordinated method to help these Chinese companies go overseas".
Lau said the Northern Metropolis development - another key Policy Address initiative - will prove to be attractive for tech firms wishing to step foot into Shenzhen, one of the world's largest tech hubs.
"The image of Hong Kong for many foreign companies or even mainland companies in the past, is that 'Hong Kong is big city, we don't have land'," she noted.
"Now this is not true, in the longer-term development we will be providing land for the right industries."
On a separate note, Lau unveiled that InvestHK is planning to revamp two of its most successful events, the FintechWeek and StartmeupHK festival which will both mark their 10-year anniversary in November.
She said the annual events will be merged into one this year at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
"This year it will be very exciting - there will be a cross-over from AI to environmental, green technologies, sustainable energy, and other technology as well as fintech companies, all looking to showcase, look for investors and also to have more collaboration and discussions going forward."