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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

Commerce centre tenants get jab

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today viewed the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine to staff from different companies working at the International Commerce Centre.   This is the first time that a property management company has taken the lead to gather building tenants to participate in the outreach vaccination service. About 250 people from Kai Shing Management Services which manages the commerce centre, Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong and international financial institutions in the building, received the BioNTech vaccine.   Mr Nip said: “I am grateful to Kai Shing Management Services for taking the lead and Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong for providing the venue, which makes the outreach vaccination service possible today by gathering staff members from various companies of the building who would like to get vaccinated.   “People working in the same building often have to use common facilities such as lobbies and lifts. Hence, they can gain better protection if all of them are vaccinated.”   He also called on various sectors and industries to join the Government in encouraging people to get vaccinated in order to significantly raise the city’s vaccination rate and restore normality to society.   Enterprises and organisations can call 3904 1490 from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday to arrange outreach vaccination services.
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