GUANGZHOU, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Mainland companies now make up almost half of the listed firms on the Hong Kong Exchange.

There are 254 companies listed in H-shares, with a market value of 7.2 trillion Hong Kong dollars, according to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.

The number of mainland companies, including H-share companies, red chip companies and non-H share private enterprises, listed in Hong Kong makes up 49 percent of the total.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the launch of H-shares. On 15 July, 1993, the first H-share company, Tsingtao Brewery Company, commenced trading in Hong Kong. Since then, Hong Kong has become the major offshore market for the listings of mainland companies.