A total of 424 Shandong-based companies had established branches and expanded business in Hong Kong by the end of 2011, according to statistics from the Shandong provincial department of commerce.

　　Hong Kong, an international financial, trade and shipping hub, has become a hot investment destination for Shandong businesses.

　　They are mainly concentrated in the areas of manufacturing, foreign trade, commercial services, wholesale and retail, tourism and the transportation sector.

　　As of the end of 2011, a total of 97 Shandong-based companies including Shandong Gold Group and Weichai Power Co Ltd, realized overseas mergers and acquisitions through regional offices in Hong Kong.

　　Hong Kong provides a sound overseas financing platform to local capital-hungry enterprises as well. To date, 37 companies in the province, such as Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd, have listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.