Commerce and Industry 1 97
component of services trade, merchanting and other trade-related services recorded the largest surplus in 2009, at $177.3 billion, followed by transportation services ($88.9 billion), financial services ($58.4 billion) and travel services ($3.7 billion).
Inward Direct Investment
Hong Kong's attraction as a place to do business is evident from the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the number of regional headquarters and regional offices in Hong Kong set up by companies outside Hong Kong.
Census and Statistics Department data show that Hong Kong's FDI inflow in 2008 amounted to US$59.6 billion. According to the 'World Investment Report 2009' released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Hong Kong was the second largest recipient of FDI in Asia in 2008.
At the end of 2008, the position of inward direct investment at market value amounted to $6,325.8 billion (Chart 2). Chart 3 shows source countries/territories of inward direct investment. The Mainland was the largest, accounting for 36.5 per cent of the total position at end-2008. Chart 4 shows the major economic activities of enterprise groups in Hong Kong2. Those engaged in investment holding, real estate and various business services took up the largest share, at 67.5 per cent of the total position at end-2008.
Chart 2
Position of Inward Direct Investment in Hong Kong at Market Value, at end of 1999-2008
HK$ Billion
10,000
9,187
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
6,326
5,772
:
5,000
4,056
4,000
3,551
3,522
3,149
3,270
2,960
3,000
2,622
2,000
1,000
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2 An enterprise group may consist of a parent company, its subsidiaries, associates and branches.