Skip to main content

Feb exports value down 0.8%

The value of Hong Kong’s total exports decreased to $284.1 billion in February, down 0.8% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.   The value of imports of goods fell 1.8% to $325.7 billion for the same period.   A trade deficit of $41.7 billion, or 12.8% of the value of imports, was recorded in February.   Comparing the three-month period ending February with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of exports rose 5.5%, while that of imports also increased 3.3%.   The Government noted that taking the first two months of the year together to remove the volatility caused by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year, the value of exports posted a 16.6% growth against a very low base of comparison a year ago.   Exports to the Mainland and the US rose notably, while those to the European Union fell. Those to other major Asian markets recorded a mixed performance.   Looking ahead, the Gove

Laguna City restricted area set

The Government made a restriction-testing declaration to require people at Blocks 5 and 7 of Laguna City in Lam Tin to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing for COVID-19 in accordance with its arrangement from 7pm.   It exercised the power under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap 599J).   The restricted area refers to Blocks Block 5 and Block 7 of Laguna City.   The Government explained that it issued compulsory testing notices for these two blocks after outbreaks in the area remained severe. From January 18 to 29, a total of 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded in the blocks concerned.   It said it understands that around 1,200 residents from the two blocks already underwent testing at the testing station set up at Sai Tso Wan Neighbourhood Community Centre in Kwun Tong from January 22 to 24 and from January 29 to 31.   After conducting a risk assessment, the Government decided that it is necessary to issue a restriction-testing declaration for the restricted area to break the transmission chain in the district and dispel the residents’ worries.   It will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the restricted area and request people subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 2am tomorrow.   They must also stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid the risk of cross-infection.   The Government will arrange door-to-door specimen collection for seniors and people with impaired mobility, or make arrangements for them to self-collect and submit the deep throat saliva specimen.   It strives to complete testing of all identified people subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, as well as finish the exercise at around 7am tomorrow to allow residents to start getting to work.       Those who had undergone previous testing from January 29 to 31 and are able to provide the SMS notification or related certification containing the results are not required to be tested again.   However, they are required to stay in their premises until all people identified in the area have undergone testing and the results are mostly ascertained.   All people who had been at Blocks 5 and 7 for more than two hours from January 29 to 31, even if they were not in the restricted area at the time the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing by the same time as mentioned above.   The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline 2756 0665 for enquiries. The Social Welfare Department is also providing assistance to those affected.
http://dlvr.it/Rrm5h5

Popular posts from this blog

Legal officer changes proposed

The Government has proposed to amend the law to allow legal officers of the Department of Justice to be appointed as a senior counsel.   At a media session after attending a Legislative Council meeting today, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng explained the rationale behind the Government's proposal.   She said: “Why is it that my colleagues in the Department of Justice - who by their qualifications are solicitors but are actually arguing very well and very efficiently with great eloquence and efficacy in the Court of Final Appeal - are not being recognised when they are actually even better than their counterparts? That has always been something that sometimes troubles me.   “And for that reason, I have always been thinking about how we are going to overcome that problem.   “Now, what really triggers my determination to take this further forward is when one of our Deputy Directors of Public Prosecutions, Vinci Lam, took silk on May 29.   “That really showed that the form

CE to meet Congo president

Chief Executive John Lee will meet Democratic Republic of Congo President FĂ©lix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo at Government House tomorrow, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced today.   The Congo president is in the People’s Republic of China for a state visit and will arrive in Hong Kong for a two-day trip. http://dlvr.it/Spnmcs

Skewed remarks about NSL rejected

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected the wanton slanders and smears concerning the implementation of “one country, two systems” and the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong by certain US and UK politicians.   In a statement issued tonight, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted that such slanders and smears were recently made through a statement by certain members of the US Senate on the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the third anniversary of the implementation of the NSL, and by the House of Commons of the UK Parliament through a debate on the aforesaid third anniversary.   It said it strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects the unfounded remarks and slanders by the US and UK politicians regarding the Hong Kong SAR where “one country, two systems” is successfully implemented.   It also strongly urges the politicians to immediately stop acting against the international law and