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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

Govt schools’ merger announced

The Education Bureau announced today that Lung Cheung Government Secondary School (LCGSS) will merge with Kowloon Technical School (KTS) starting from the 2022-23 school year to integrate resources and offer students a better learning environment.   The bureau decided on the merger considering the projected decline in the school-age population of secondary schools is structural and that there is a relatively sizeable surplus of school places in Wong Tai Sin where LCGSS is situated.   The decision to merge was made after carefully considering factors including education policies, changes in school-age population, demand and supply of school places, overall development needs of government schools and utilisation of its resources, it explained.   Noting that both schools were former technical schools with similar backgrounds, the bureau said the premises of KTS is spacious enough to accommodate the students who will be transferred there.   The consolidation will not only alleviate the excessive supply of school places in Wong Tai Sin but also integrate resources of the two schools to provide students with a better learning environment and richer learning experience, it added.   LCGSS will cease to run Secondary 1 and 4 classes from the 2022-23 school year and will no longer operate in the 2024-25 school year.   While students currently studying Secondary 4 to Secondary 6 will complete their senior secondary education in LCGSS, Secondary 1 to Secondary 3 students will be transferred to KTS for Secondary 4 upon completion of their junior secondary education.   The bureau stressed that it will assist students who wish to change to other secondary schools in the district.   In addition to discussing the merger at school management committees, both schools pledged to maintain communication with stakeholders and explain the detailed arrangements and support measures for students.   Starting from this school year, the educational institutions will strengthen co-operation through exchange activities for teachers and students by arranging joint school curriculum and competitions to enhance their integration and achieve synergy.   The bureau said it will analyse the needs and situations of both schools in the coming years and provide necessary resources and support to assist them in catering for students' learning.   It will also closely monitor the changes in student population and maintain communication with the sector.   It is hoped that the merger will serve as a leading example for other school-sponsoring bodies and encourage the sector to plan ahead to ensure the sustainable development of the school sector and effective use of resources while maintaining the quality of education, the bureau emphasised.
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