HONG KONG, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas and in Chinese mainland has reached an all-time high of 7,904 this year, up 4.2 percent on last year, Invest Hong Kong and the region's Census & Statistics Department announced on Monday.

　　In terms of source country or territory, the U.S. topped the list with 1,368 companies in Hong Kong. Two others in the top 10 were Chinese mainland and Taiwan, with the former registering the strongest growth of 14 percent.

　　More than 1,400 of the operations are regional headquarters, 2,397 are regional offices and 4,106 are local offices. They employ a record 422,000 people, up 4.3 percent on last year.

　　Hong Kong's Director-General of Investment Promotion Simon Galpin said as the mainland continues to open its economy and on the back of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, Hong Kong will continue to be the super-connector helping the nation in its gradual economic reform, generating many new business opportunities.