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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

Anti-epidemic adviser to leave

The Government said today that Prof Keiji Fukuda will resign from the expert advisory panel under the Steering Committee & Command Centre in relation to the Novel Coronavirus and the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines with effect from December 1.   Prof Fukuda notified the Government that he will return to the US for retirement upon his departure from the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health by the end of this year.   Chief Executive Carrie Lam expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Prof Fukuda for his significant contribution in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong and wished him a happy retirement.   She said: "With his rich experience and expertise in public health, Prof Fukuda offered a wealth of invaluable professional advice which is constructive to the Government's effort in combatting the epidemic during the past two years.   "He also shared his experience gained during his days in the World Health Organization and effectively supported the Government to deal with the epidemic situation based on science and theories."   The membership list of the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines has been updated and will take effect from December 1.
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