Seventy youngsters from Hong Kong's Inter-City Games squad will be able to match their skills against their counterparts from the mainland in Xian from 11-20 September.
Under-23 athletes from different cities and regions of China will be able assess their skill level in what is regarded as preparation for the major games, including the Olympics.
Ho Yip-chuen, spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau, which organises the squad, said the SAR athletes were hoping for good results.
'We don't send them for a picnic. The athletes we selected have obtained good international results. They are not going there simply to take part,' Ho said.
Ho added that the selections of swimmers and track and field athletes was based on the selection standard issued by the Chinese sports authority.
Ho said it would cost less than $2 million to send the delegation, who will be led by Sport Federation and Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok Tsun-ting and a Home Affairs Bureau official.
