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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

Sophia Chan visits vaccination centre

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today visited the community vaccination centre at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre to view the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine to ethnic minority residents.   Noting that more than 60 ethnic minority residents joined the vaccination activity arranged by Lok Sin Tong today, Prof Chan said the participants will not only protect themselves and their family members, but also contribute to the epidemic prevention and control work in Hong Kong.   She also thanked the organisation for arranging the activity to assist the ethnic minority community to get vaccinated, so that they can fulfil their civic responsibility and help build an immune barrier for the city.   To enable ethnic minorities to receive the latest news and information on COVID-19 vaccines, the Government's designated website is available in different languages to introduce the vaccination programme, the vaccines' protection and essential facts.   The health chief emphasised that the Government has so far procured and authorised a total of 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, which are sufficient for all Hong Kong people to receive vaccination.   As the global pandemic situation is still raging, especially with the threat posed by mutant strains, it is imperative for the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect their own health and that of their families and others, she added.   In early May, Prof Chan met presidents and representatives of various charities to discuss the latest progress of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and exchange views.   She called on the charities to join the Government in promoting the Early Vaccination for All campaign and encourage their staff members and service users of subsidiaries to get vaccinated.
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