US and European firms continued to expand their footprints in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, adding new momentum to the city’s role as a superconnector.A total of 413 companies either set up local entities or expanded their presence in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent, government investment promotion agency InvestHK said on Thursday.“[The firms] are expected to bring in over HK$53 billion [US$6.75 billion] in foreign direct investment [FDI] and create more than 8,600 new jobs,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at the agency’s annual reception.The statistics represent an increase of 36 per cent in FDI and 8 per cent in new jobs generated.The city said it would continue to offer an open and business-friendly environment, low and straightforward taxes, and a common law system that would seamlessly connect with global financial centres.The InvestHK reception was attended by more than 380 representatives from global enterprises.