The jobs provided are mainly high and middle level managers in marketing, finance, advertisement and customer services, etc. Experts in securities, law and information technologies are also sought with attractive salaries.

The expo was much hotter than the organizers had expected as Thousands of Hong Kongers queued for entry upon its opening.

Facing the great tide of people coming in, Sheng Nanfang, a high-level official of the South China Market of Human Resources, one of the organizers, said, "it really had become a new trend forHong Kong people to seek career in the Mainland and for Mainland companies to employ Hong Kong people."

"It will be win-win for both sides," Sheng said.

"On one side, there are great demand for experts with international experiences in the Mainland especially after China'sentry into the World Trade Organization," he said, "on the other side, the great Mainland market provided new opportunities for Hong Kong people who are facing rising unemployment rate now."

Broad Air Conditioning, a famous private company based in HunanProvince's Capital Changsha, planned to recruit about 125 people in Hong Kong. One of its director Zhou Zhuojun said Broad already had Hong Kong employees working for it.

"We think they had two advantages, one is their knowledge aboutboth the Mainland and international markets, another is their professionalism and entrepreneurship," she said.

The expo, which will last three days, was hailed as a good try to human resources in both Mainland and Hong Kong.

Tan Yao Zong, member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, said while visiting the expo that it was held timely and would greatly promote the development of human resources and economies of both places.

( Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2002)