The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is set to expand its efforts to attract investment from the Chinese mainland, the region's largest source of investment.

Mark Michelson, assistant director of the InvestHK agency, said more resources would be directed at mainland investment promotion this year, including two new economic and trade offices in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Shanghai.

"Hong Kong is inseparable from the mainland. Their economic ties are closer than ever. Hong Kong is an ideal springboard for mainland companies to go global," said Michelson in Beijing.

In 2005, Hong Kong received a total of 35.9 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment. China's mainland was the largest investor followed by the Netherlands, the United States, Japan and Singapore, he said.

More than 2,000 mainland companies have moved to Hong Kong, of which 260 have established their headquarters or regional offices there. Mainland firms have used Hong Kong to raise more than 140 billion U.S. dollars in investment, accounting for 51 percent of the region's market capitalisation.

To help mainland investors establish and expand their operations in Hong Kong, InvestHK has launched a toll-free "InvestHK 800 Hotline", an InvestHK service center and a "Step-by-Step Guide".

InvestHK is a government department responsible for retaining and attracting direct investment in Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua