Hong Kong's trade is poised for a strong rebound in the year 2000, Executive Director of the Trade Development Council (TDC) Michael C.C. Sze said in Hong Kong on December 13.

The TDC forecasts that total trade will grow by 7 percent in value terms next year.

Total exports are expected to grow by 6 percent, led by an 8 percent increase in re-exports while imports are expected to increase by 8 percent.

Hong Kong's domestic exports, which are steadily decreasing, would nonetheless drop at a slower rate of 3 percent.

Sze said China's pending accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) presented the single-biggest opportunity in 20 years for Hong Kong's manufacturers, traders and service providers.

"A key priority for TDC in the coming year is to analyze the full implications of China's WTO accession, sector by sector, in the context of Hong Kong's strengths," he said.

"We want to make sure our clients, especially Hong Kong's small and medium-sized enterprises, are well informed about what China's further opening means for their business," Sze said.

In addition to releasing detailed research studies on opportunities arising from China's WTO entry, the TDC would partner with mainland entities to organize business seminars to help companies in Hong Kong build new strategies around China's WTO accession.