Head of the Origin Hong Kong Branch Office, Mr Satoru Maeshima, said the move would facilitate a closer relationship with the company's major customers who are increasingly basing their manufacturing operations in mainland China. 'Origin is delighted to be doing business in Hong Kong. Our Hong Kong office will be the base of our mainland sales activities and will serve as a logistical hub for our expansion in this high growth region,' said Mr Maeshima.

Hong Kong's Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mike Rowse, who is in charge of attracting overseas investment into the jurisdiction, welcomed the company's move to Hong Kong. He declared: 'Origin's choice underlined the strength of the Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s role as a base for doing business with mainland China.

'No other city in Asia can compete with Hong Kong's advantages as a gateway to mainland China. Hong Kong has the best geographical location, the business know-how and years of accumulated experience in doing business with the mainland,' added Mr Rowse.

Founded in Japan in 1938, Origin first listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange 40 years ago and currently has a workforce of around 1,000 people in the country. The company provides power supplies to a variety of businesses including communication equipment businesses and industrial plants as well as making other specialised equipment.