The number of Hong Kong residents working on the Chinese mainland has grown by 20 percent compared with a year earlier, said the regional government in Hong Kong.

　　The South China Morning Post newspaper reported yesterday that there were 238,200 Hong Kong residents working north of the border at some point in the 12 months leading up to the poll, which was carried out from January to March.

　　That amounts to 7.4 percent of the work force. In 2002, 198,100 people said they worked on the mainland.

　　The latest figures illustrate the growing integration between the two sides.

　　Terrence Chong Tai-leung, Chinese University of Hong Kong associate professor of economics, said it is unavoidable that people will go to the mainland because the economies of Hong Kong and the mainland are integrating.

　　"Especially those in the banking and accounting industry, they have to go to the mainland to check the firms," said Chong.

　　The city government surveyed 11,000 households but did not count people who travelled to the mainland for meetings or inspections or to attend trade fairs or work-related entertainment.

　　The figures show that the typical cross-border workers is male, highly educated and relatively well paid.

　　Nearly 80 percent of those who said they had to work on the mainland are men. About 35 percent have a post-secondary education, compared with 28 percent for the total Hong Kong work force.

　　The median rate of pay is 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$1,923) a month, compared with HK$10,000 for the entire work force.

　　The median age for Hong Kong residents working over the border is 41 years, compared with 38 years for the work force as a whole.

　　The type of work they do on the mainland is also skewed to the higher end, with 39 percent working as professionals and associated professionals, and 37 percent as managers and administrators.