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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

Halted works resume

The construction works of a relocation project in Kowloon put on hold since September 7 has resumed today after the contractor got the approval for works resumption, the Government said.   The project relocates supporting operational facilities of Tsim Sha Tsui Fire Station Complex, Fire Services Club and other fire services accommodations to To Wah Road in Kowloon.   The foundation works within the project’s railway protection area were suspended on September 7, when a reading recorded in a settlement monitoring checkpoint installed inside the railway tunnel between Kowloon and Olympic station of the MTR Tung Chung Line had slightly exceeded the pre-set trigger level for works suspension.   Inspections conducted by the Architectural Services, Buildings and Electrical & Mechanical Services departments and the MTR Corporation (MTRC) had confirmed the relevant railway facilities’ structural safety as well as the railway’s safe operation.   The contractor for the construction works submitted an investigation report on the incident to the Architectural Services Department, along with proposed mitigation measures and a request for resuming the suspended works.   The three departments and the MTRC conducted an inspection again and confirmed that the railway facilities are structurally safe and the railway condition fulfilled the operational safety requirements.   It was also confirmed that the works resumption will not cause an adverse effect to the relevant railway facilities and operation, and that the MTRC has implemented stringent monitoring measures to ensure railway operational safety.   Having considered the above advice, the request for works resumption was accepted yesterday and the suspended works resumed today.  
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