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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

Date set to start legislative session

The Government announced today that in accordance with section 4(3) of the Legislative Council Ordinance, the Chief Executive in Council has specified January 1, 2022 as the commencement date of the Seventh Legislative Council.   The Chief Executive has also specified January 12, 2022 as the commencement date of the 2022 legislative session under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council Ordinance and specified 11am of that date for holding the first meeting of the Legislative Council in accordance with section 10(1) of the same ordinance.   Notices announcing the commencement dates of the Seventh Legislative Council and the 2022 legislative session as well as the date and time of holding the council’s first meeting were gazetted today.
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