The Trade Development Council (TDC) said on Thursday Hong Kong brands and products could make use of various online platforms to expand their business on the mainland.

The TDC said the "Hong Kong Brand" is popular north of the border after it surveyed about 2,200 mainland consumers in the middle-income bracket or above during the second and third quarter last year.

Around 78 percent of respondents gave products from the SAR an average score of 8.7 out of 10.

It said high-end products such as electronics, luxury items and clothes were most sought after by mainland consumers, and they were most willing to pay for children's products, goods for pets, food, and pharmaceuticals.

The TDC's principal economist Wing Chu said this was due to the reputation of the city’s retail sector, which is known for its authenticity and high quality.

“Our position is at the mid- to high-end segment. In the mainland, the most important thing in this market is that the consumers pay attention to the product, whether it is genuine or not,” he said.

“For Hong Kong companies, they have the upper hand when tapping into this market because the Hong Kong name has a high recognition on the mainland,” he added.

Chu suggested local sellers should pay attention to different online platforms when promoting their goods, as mainland buyers often seek comments and product information through social media, but place orders through e-commerce platforms instead.