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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

113k people get virus test

Over 113,000 people had their specimens collected at 21 community testing centres (CTCs) and 35 mobile specimen collection stations on May 1, a record high for daily specimen collection at those places, the Government announced.   Among them, more than 52,000 are foreign domestic helpers.   As of 6pm today, over 54,000 specimens have been tested and no preliminarily positive result has been found so far.   The Food & Health Bureau thanked the public for their co-operation in undergoing compulsory testing for COVID-19.   There are nearly 40,000 booking places available for the next seven days at the 21 CTCs where booking and walk-in services are available, it added.   Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting.   Given the surge in testing demand within a short period, the Government will set up one more mobile specimen collection station at Sai Ying Pun Community Complex tomorrow for people subject to compulsory testing.   It will also extend the service period of the stations at King George V Memorial Park, Kowloon, MacPherson Playground and Arthur Street Temporary Playground in Yau Ma Tei to May 10 and those at 100 Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui East and Hankow Road in Tsim Sha Tsui to May 16.
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