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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

7 imported COVID-19 cases found

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating seven additional imported COVID-19 cases involving patients who arrived from India, the Philippines and Ghana.   The centre is also investigating an overseas infection case involving a 47-year-old male cargo flight crew member who lives at Tower 11, Carmel Cove, Phase 3, Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung. He received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine on April 7 and April 29 in Hong Kong.   Having tested negative for COVID-19 in Hong Kong by a sample collected on September 17, he departed for Australia on September 20 by flight HX2017. On September 22, he returned to Hong Kong by flight HX2018 and tested negative upon arrival on the same day. He then returned to his residence for medical surveillance.   The Australian health authority yesterday notified the centre that the man’s specimen collected in Australia on September 20 tested positive for COVID-19. He remained asymptomatic and was sent to the hospital for treatment. The first sample collected after admission tested negative and the hospital will arrange further tests.   The centre is following up on the case with the Australian health authority. Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing are underway.   As a prudent measure, the building where the man resided in Hong Kong was included in a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring relevant people to undergo testing.   Additionally, the centre reminds specified people linked to Tower 2, Le Prestige, LOHAS Park in Tseung Kwan O to get tested tomorrow in accordance with a compulsory testing notice.   A total of 36 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, all of which are imported.   For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government’s dedicated webpage.
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