Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent announcement by First Capital Securities to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, marking the third small and medium-sized brokerage firm to pursue international expansion in Hong Kong this year [1][3]. Group 1: Company Developments - First Capital Securities plans to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary named "First Capital International Financial Holdings Limited" in Hong Kong to engage in regulated activities such as securities trading and asset management [3]. - The company intends to invest no more than 500 million HKD to establish the Hong Kong subsidiary, with the board authorizing management to handle the establishment process [3]. - Other brokerage firms, such as Western Securities and Northeast Securities, have also announced plans to set up subsidiaries in Hong Kong this year, indicating a trend among smaller brokerages to expand their international presence [3][4]. Group 2: Market Environment - The Hong Kong stock market has seen a resurgence, with the Hang Seng Index rising by 20% in the first half of the year, leading to increased trading activity and investor interest [6][10]. - The number of IPOs in Hong Kong has increased significantly, with 42 IPOs raising over 107 billion HKD in the first half of the year, surpassing the total for the previous year by approximately 22% [6]. - The article notes that while some brokerages are expanding their operations in Hong Kong, others are cautious or scaling back their plans due to market conditions [7]. Group 3: Performance of Existing Subsidiaries - Several existing brokerage firms with subsidiaries in Hong Kong have reported strong financial performance, with notable increases in revenue and profit [9]. - For instance, Guotai Junan International achieved a record revenue of 2.825 billion HKD in the first half of the year, a 30% year-on-year increase, while CITIC Securities International reported a 53% increase in revenue to 1.49 billion USD [9]. - Other firms, such as Shenwan Hongyuan Hong Kong and Industrial Securities, also reported significant growth in their financial results, driven by increased brokerage and underwriting activities [9].