The number of new local companies registered last year hit a record high of 100,761, up 22.92 percent on 2006, showed the statistics released on Sunday by Hong Kong Companies Registry.

The statistics showed that 748 new overseas companies established a place of business in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and registered under the Companies Ordinance last year, up 23.03 percent on 2006.

The total number of live companies registered at the end of last year was 655,038, up 63,094 from the end of 2006. The total number of overseas companies stood at 8,081, 372 more than in 2006.

The number of charges on the assets of companies received last year was 38,506, up 26.88 percent on 2006. The number of satisfactions and releases received grew 12.09 percent, to 24,271 last year, the registry said.

A total of 259 prospectuses, including 82 mutual funds, were registered, compared with 234 prospectuses, including 93 mutual funds, in 2006. The total number of documents received for filing during the year rose 12.06 percent to 1.94 million.

The total number of searches on document image records made through the registry's electronic search services last year rose 7.38 percent to 2.91 million. The search number on the computerized director index last year rose 23.11 percent to 187,264. The number of company particulars reports issued grew 9.72 percent to 134,631, according to the registry.