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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

No new COVID-19 cases in HK

The Centre for Health Protection announced that as of midnight, no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded, leaving the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong at 12,227.   A total of 69 cases were reported in the city in the past 14 days, all of which are imported.   Meanwhile, the centre has received an update from the Australian health authority that one of its confirmed cases which was reported to Hong Kong has been retested and is now negative for COVID-19.   The case, announced on October 1, involved a 55-year-old cargo flight crew member who lives at Block 3, Monterey Cove, Phase 1, Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung. As it is no longer classified as an infection case, the relevant close contacts have been released from the quarantine centre.   The centre also reminded specified people in relation to Jones Hive, 8 Jones Street in Causeway Bay and Block C of Hankow Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow.   For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
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