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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

Site settlement exceeds limit

The Government immediately ordered the suspension of foundation works for two buildings under the Central Kowloon Route project.   The Highways Department made the statement concerning the foundation works for the Kai Tak ventilation and administration buildings of the rail project.   It explained that settlement exceeding the pre-set trigger level was recorded at the monitoring checkpoints installed on the service road adjacent to the Kai Tak Tunnel Administration Building on September 30.   The department said it acted under the current mechanism in ordering the contractor to suspend the foundation works and carry out a holistic and comprehensive review.   Upon receipt of the relevant report, the department immediately arranged inspection at the Kai Tak Tunnel, Kai Tak Tunnel Administration Building as well as nearby structures and public facilities of the site.   Based on the latest monitoring figures obtained, only minor settlement well below the pre-set alert level was recorded at all public facilities in the vicinity of the site, and no settlement of the Kai Tak Tunnel Administration Building exceeding the pre-set trigger level for works suspension was recorded.   Meanwhile, the contractor's independent checking engineer has conducted further inspection and assessment and confirmed that the relevant facilities are still structurally and operationally safe.   The department arranged for the contractor to carry out strengthening works, including improving the geological condition of the adjacent area by grouting, and the relevant settlement trend has now been stabilised.   In collaboration with the contractor and the resident site staff, the department emphasised that it will closely monitor the situation to ensure that the safety and operation of the structures and public facilities would not be affected.   It has also asked the contractor to formulate mitigation measures, adopting construction methods that could minimise impacts on the above-mentioned structures and public facilities.   Upon receipt of the contractor's proposed mitigation measures and request for resumption of the foundation works, the department will scrutinise the application to ensure the structural safety and normal operation of the structures and public facilities.   If the contractor proposes to revise the pre-set trigger levels for the relevant works, it will consider the proposal after consulting the stakeholders and relevant government departments.   When the request for resumption of suspended works has been accepted, a public announcement will be made, the department added.
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