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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

5.54m register for voucher

The Government said the Consumption Voucher Scheme has received about 5.54 million registrations as of 6pm today, of which more than 5.42 million are electronic registrations.   The registration period will end on August 14.   Applicants who have completed electronic registration by July 17 and have their eligibility verified will receive the first voucher on August 1, while those who have completed electronic registration on or after July 18 or submitted paper registration forms will normally receive the first voucher on September 1.   People who choose to upload a copy of their ID card for authentication should complete the registration by uploading that copy by July 17 in order to receive the first voucher on August 1 after their eligibility has been verified.   The Government decided to adjust the time limit for uploading the ID card copy in light of the latest assessment on the network traffic.   From 6am tomorrow, people may upload their ID card copy to the scheme's website three hours after submitting the electronic registration to complete the registration procedure.   Those who have made an electronic registration before 6am tomorrow but have not yet reached the specified time for uploading the ID card copy may also upload it to the scheme's website from 9am tomorrow.   Call 18 5000 for enquiries.
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