Skip to main content

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

Jab service further enhanced

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today visited Sham Shui Po, Wan Chai and Wong Tai Sin to appeal to citizens in particular the elderly to receive COVID-19 vaccination for better self-protection.   He first inspected the first departure operation of the dedicated vaccination transport service at Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po.   As some housing estates do not have suitable places for vaccination services, today the Government started a trial run of a scheduled transport service, which offers residents, particularly elderly people, a round trip between designated housing estates and a nearby community vaccination centre, so that they can get vaccinated.   Mr Nip said: “Reaching out to the community and focusing on the elderly is a strategic priority of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at this stage. A one-stop service covering a health talk, medical consultation and COVID-19 vaccination has been provided across the 18 districts in the city and some vaccination activities are also under preparation.   “Given the threat posed by mutant strains, vaccination is the best way for people to protect themselves. People who are suitable for COVID-19 vaccination should get vaccinated as early as possible to reduce their risk of falling seriously ill and dying should they get infected.”   Meanwhile, the Government’s outreach vaccination team will provide Sinovac vaccination services to the public at Fung Ming Hall in Wong Tai Sin Temple today and tomorrow. Mr Nip showed up to show his support to seniors receiving vaccinations.   He also attended a vaccination event for elderly citizens in Wan Chai at Wan Chai Activities Centre.   Additionally, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm this Saturday, the outreach team will provide BioNTech vaccination services for Yuen Long residents at YOHO Mall I’s main plaza. Call 5193 0375 or register for vaccination on the spot.
http://dlvr.it/SB1BQp

Popular posts from this blog

Legal officer changes proposed

The Government has proposed to amend the law to allow legal officers of the Department of Justice to be appointed as a senior counsel.   At a media session after attending a Legislative Council meeting today, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng explained the rationale behind the Government's proposal.   She said: “Why is it that my colleagues in the Department of Justice - who by their qualifications are solicitors but are actually arguing very well and very efficiently with great eloquence and efficacy in the Court of Final Appeal - are not being recognised when they are actually even better than their counterparts? That has always been something that sometimes troubles me.   “And for that reason, I have always been thinking about how we are going to overcome that problem.   “Now, what really triggers my determination to take this further forward is when one of our Deputy Directors of Public Prosecutions, Vinci Lam, took silk on May 29.   “That really showed that the form
Read more

124 COVID-19 cases reported

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 124 additional COVID-19 cases. More cases were detected in Kwai Chung Estate. There are also more than 70 preliminary positive cases.   Among the newly reported cases, 33 are related to Kwai Chung Estate, bringing the total number of positive and preliminary positive cases in the estate to 276.   One more positive case was found after an earlier confirmed case occurred at Glory Court, Tsuen Wan Garden, both of them live in units 5 but on two different floors. The centre has co-ordinated with related government departments and conducted an inspection today.    It was preliminarily considered that vertical transmission of virus via pipes is involved.   The centre will issue quarantine orders to residents of unit 5 on all floors of the building who resided there during the incubation period of the relevant cases and transfer them to a quarantine facility.   As it is possible that virus might be ejected from the open
Read more

Govt explains vaccine surplus plan

The Government said it will discuss with the drug manufacturers on how to handle the expected surplus COVID-19 vaccine doses concerning this year's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.   It made the statement in response to a media report which claimed that Hong Kong will throw away millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses due to low vaccination rate.   The Government noted that as at May 24, out of the two million odd doses each of the Sinovac and BioNTech vaccine which have arrived in Hong Kong, there are 1.05 million and 840,000 unused doses.   It pointed out that the BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored in an ultra-low temperature setting and the vaccines have a relatively short expiry date from the date of manufacture which is around three to four months after arrival in Hong Kong. The vaccines now in storage will expire in mid-August.   The Government observed that the public's demand for the BioNTech vaccine has gradually become sluggish recently.   Compared with the daily
Read more