Trade between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong soared to US$123.37 billion in the first eight months, up 22.5 percent from the same period last year, according the Ministry of Commerce.

Mainland exports to Hong Kong jumped 23.1 percent to US$115.38 billion and imports climbed 15.3 percent to US$7.99 billion.

The mainland approved 10,160 Hong Kong-funded projects from January to August, 7.9 percent more than a year ago. The investment funds actually used surged by 22 percent to US$14.09 billion.

By August, the mainland had attracted US$293.85 billion in direct investment from Hong Kong.

As the mainland's largest overseas investor, it contributed 40.4 percent of all the mainland's actually-used investment.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2007)