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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-terror exercise concluded

The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit conducted an anti-terrorism exercise at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link today.   The unit co-ordinated with an aerial flight patrol of the Government Flying Service, helping Police pursue a wanted vehicle.   The exercise simulated an operation against terrorists who opened fire towards a crowd. The terrorists also attempted to use a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear device outside the West Kowloon Station. Police arrested the culprits.   The exercise aimed to test and enhance departments' capabilities in dealing with terrorism-related intelligence and responding to different forms of terrorist attacks.   The unit's Police Senior Superintendent Leung Wai-ki told the media today that although public order had basically been restored in the past 12 months, several violent incidents around July 1 this year illustrated that some local radicals had not abandoned their extremist pursuits.   Mr Leung pointed out that the overall terrorist threat level in Hong Kong remains moderate and there is no specific intelligence suggesting that Hong Kong will be subject to any terrorist attack.   “In order to ensure we are fully prepared to respond or deal with any kind or any format of a terrorist incident in Hong Kong, all enforcement agencies under our Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit will conduct regular counter-terrorism exercises or other emergency drills in accordance with the latest global or local situation.”   About 300 officers from the Police Force, Government Flying Service, Immigration Department, Correctional Services Department, Customs & Excise Department and Fire Services Department took part in the exercise.   The Government Laboratory and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation also assisted in the exercise.   The unit promotes the message of Spot & Report among the public, stressing that tragedy could often be avoided if local communities provide timely useful information to law enforcement agencies.
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