Business opportunities: Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse explains at a media session InvestHK's plan to attract Mainland investment to Hong Kong.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, 253 Mainland enterprises were granted approval to invest in Hong Kong last year, up 58% on the 160 approvals in 2004.

The growing investment from the Mainland shows Hong Kong's increasingly important role as the springboard for companies to expand out of China, Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse says.

Speaking at the annual spring reception for business leaders of Hong Kong-based Chinese enterprises today, Mr Rowse said the Mainland was the one of the largest contributors to Hong Kong's direct investment inflow in 2004, amounting to $62 billion - a 63% rise in inflow from the Mainland on 2003.

To provide more comprehensive coverage in the Mainland, Invest Hong Kong will devote more resources to that market, by setting up investment promotion units at the Beijing Office, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Guangdong and the two new economic and trade offices to be opened in Chengdu and Shanghai later this year.