Hong Kong's wine market, which developed rapidly in the past two years, is set to continue its momentum with its role as a "transfer station" for wine imports into the Chinese mainland highlighted, according to Jacky Cheung, the president of the Wine Association of Hong Kong, during the ongoing Wine Expo 2010.

Cheung said along with the expansion of the market, there are about 700 to 800 wine merchants in the business now, almost doubled the figure two years ago.

The six-day event, which opened last Friday, included a cocktail-making competition yesterday, and the public were invited to taste fine wine, priced from HK$20 to above HK$1,000 (US$2.58 to US$129), presented by about 16 wine dealers.

Wine imports in Hong Kong soared 80 percent annually in 2008 to HK$4 billion and rose 41 percent year on year in 2009, according to statistics released by Hong Kong.About 40 percent of foreign wine imported into the Chinese mainland comes through Hong Kong.