The launch of real estate investment trusts in mainland China is back on the policy agenda in a 30-point programme of measures planned by the State Council to revitalise the country's finance sector.

Included in the wide-ranging policy initiatives unveiled on its website on Saturday was a restatement from the cabinet of its proposal to develop reits on a pilot basis – a comment that was widely welcomed in Hong Kong.

'It makes sense to consider it,' said Angela Lee Wai-yin, a partner in the law firm Baker & McKenzie.

Talk that the mainland would launch reits as an investment class first surfaced as early as five years ago and there was no commitment in the weekend statement to a time-table for their introduction. But expectations have now been rekindled that their debut could be imminent.

South China Morning Post