Hong Kong - Hong Kong's reputation as a business-savvy city was bolstered Wednesday by a survey which found that more than one third of adults invest in stocks or shares.

The survey by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, which runs the former British colony's stock exchange, found 35.7 per cent of the city's adult population - or
2.02 million people - hold stocks or shares.

The average holding in stocks and shares is around 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (12,800 US dollars) and the typical investor is a 42-year-old with a monthly income of around 2,900 US dollars, the survey of more than 2,200 people found.

Hong Kong investors have seen almost one third of the value of their stocks and shares wiped out by losses caused largely by the global economic slowdown since late October. (dpa)