(Yicai Global) Dec. 4 -- The Shanghai-London Stock Connect will be kicked off in less than two weeks, with the first group of around 20 participating firms, sources familiar with the process said.

The ceremony, where the names of about 10 Chinese and 10 British participants will be published, will be held in London on Dec. 14, the insiders said to Yicai Global in an interview today. Trading is scheduled to start after January, they added.

Chinese brokerage Huatai Securities plans to be one of those first members, Reuters reported today, citing sources who had knowledge of the plan. 

Some employees of Chinese brokerages said that they have already begun training to offer services related to the bourse tie-up, they said to Yicai Global. 

The link between the Chinese and European bourses aims to offer more cross-border investment opportunities for investors in both countries. 

Authorities in the UK and China have committed to establishing the cross-listing program before the end of this year. The scheme follows the footsteps of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, which was launched in November 2014, and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, which was kicked off in December 2016. 

Editor: Emmi Laine