The value of Hong Kong’s total goods exports increased to $389 billion in April, up 1.1% compared with the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today. The value of imports of goods rose 2.1% to $425.6 billion for the same period. A trade deficit of $36.6 billion, or 8.6% of the value of imports, was recorded for the month. Comparing the three-month period ending April with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports decreased 12% while that of imports fell 11.7%. The Government said epidemic-induced transportation disruptions, though easing somewhat in the latter part of the month, continued to constrain export performance. It pointed out that exports to the Mainland fell while those to the US and the European Union posted visible growth. Looking ahead, the global economic outlook has worsened amid rampant inflation in some major economies and monetary policy tightening by respective cen
People should stay vigilant against COVID-19 even though Hong Kong is currently experiencing a drop in the number of cases, Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Ronald Lam said today.
Dr Lam made the remarks at a press briefing after the centre announced that the number of new coronavirus cases dropped to just nine.
"Currently, we are seeing a slow drop in the number of COVID-19 cases in the recent few days. The next step we will take would be affected by a number of factors, including, perhaps, during the Lunar New Year when many of the citizens do not seek medical consultation. So this may affect the trend of the epidemic after the Lunar New Year.
"Also, during the holidays, usually there will be some kinds of gatherings of families together, although we have appealed again and again to people to avoid that kind of mixing and gatherings."
Dr Lam added that the centre will continue to monitor the epidemic situation given the number of cases could rebound after the Lunar New Year.
"Looking back at the past experiences of the past year - usually after long vacations and after these kinds of gatherings - we usually see some form of upsurge in the number of cases. So we would not rule out the possibility that the number of cases will increase again. So we need to observe that trend and be very, very cautious."
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