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Apr exports value down 13%

The value of Hong Kong's total exports decreased to $338.3 billion in April, down 13% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.   The value of imports of goods decreased 11.9% to $374.9 billion for the same period.   A trade deficit of $36.6 billion, or 9.8% of the value of imports, was recorded in April.   Comparing the three-month period ending April with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of exports rose 15.4%, while that of imports increased 10.7%.   The Government noted that the value of merchandise exports declined further from a year earlier in April. Exports to the Mainland, the US and the European Union all shrank and exports to other major Asian markets recorded decreases of varying degrees.   Looking ahead, it added that the weakness in the advanced economies will continue to weigh on Hong Kong's export performance, though the expected faster recovery of the Mainland economy should

CE attends bay area ceremony

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today attended the Greater Bay Area - Starting Line to a Bright Future ceremony with youth development as the theme.   The event was held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to mark the second anniversary of the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.   Guangdong Province Vice Governor Zhang Xin also joined the event and addressed the ceremony via a recorded video.   The central government promulgated the Outline Development Plan on February 18 last year, which sets out the directions guiding the bay area development.   The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to giving new impetus to Hong Kong's economic development through participating in the Greater Bay Area development. It will also step up its publicity and promotional efforts to encourage Hong Kong people to participate more proactively in the development.   Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam said: “Young people are brimming with energy and vitality, and are full of hope and vision for their future. The Greater Bay Area provides a stage to realise their aspirations.    “The Hong Kong SAR Government wishes to encourage Hong Kong young people to aim high and explore opportunities beyond Hong Kong, and unleash their potential on a bigger platform through starting a new business or pursuing a career of their interest in the Greater Bay Area.   “With the support from our society, I am very confident that Hong Kong young people will be able to seize the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area to realise their aspirations.”   Today’s event also included the We Venture launching ceremony to announce the list of funded organisations under two funding schemes, one for youth entrepreneurship in the bay area and another for experiential programmes at innovation and entrepreneurial bases in the area.   There was also a launching ceremony for the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme, an initiative in the 2020 Policy Address that encourages and supports young people to work in the Mainland cities of the bay area and leverage the opportunities for career advancement.   The scheme provides 2,000 places, including 700 places designated for innovation and technology posts. The response has been favourable, with about 1,400 vacancies received since the scheme's launch last month.   The life record documentary Starting Line at the Bay Area was also officially launched. Featuring the life stories of 10 Hong Kong people living in different bay area Mainland cities, the programme will be broadcast on channel 81 every Sunday evening from February 28.
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