The government’s investment promotion body says almost 400 foreign or mainland companies started up or expanded in Hong Kong last year, calling the city “a natural first choice” as an Asian base for multinationals. Alpha Lau, director general of investment promotion at InvestHK, said on Friday that 382 companies had either arrived or expanded and the department had “regained momentum” after the city had fully reopened its borders in early 2023 following the lifting of Covid curbs. “As companies were able to resume their Asian strategies after the pandemic, Hong Kong is a natural first choice a…