BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Trade between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong soared to 123.37 billion U.S. dollars 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 115.38 billion U.S. dollars and imports climbed 15.3 percent to 7.99 billion U.S. dollars.

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 14.09 billion U.S. dollars.

By August, the mainland had attracted 293.85 billion U.S. dollars 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.