The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) will host a series of symposiums and fairs on finance, transportation, product designing, market surveying, counseling and software development in the mainland this year.

A TDC source said last week that the decision is part of the council's effort to increase and expand Hong Kong's service industry in the mainland once China enters the World Trade Organization (WTO) and opens its market wider to the outside world.

Hong Kong's service industry accounts for about 84 percent of the Hong Kong economy. The TDC held a Real Estate Service Fair in Shanghai from January 13-15 attracting 47 major Hong Kong real estate companies.

Shanghai is expected to become the starting point of TDC's business expansion in the interior areas, the source added.