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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

Patrick Nip thanks HKU jab team

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today visited the community vaccination centre (CVC) at University of Hong Kong (HKU) Loke Yew Hall to inspect its operation and thanked the medical team and administrative support staff.   The CVC at HKU began serving the public on February 23 and May 22 will be its last day of service.   Mr Nip said back in February that the situation of the fifth wave of the epidemic was severe, with a strong demand for vaccination.   He added that the Civil Service Bureau was working at full throttle, setting up more vaccination venues and boosting the vaccination rate to enable more people to have the protection conferred by the vaccines in a short period of time.   With the support of the medical team organised by HKU and the joint efforts of Prof Yuen Kwok-yung, Prof Ivan Hung and the medical staff, the Government has for the first time set up a vaccination centre on a university campus serving all members of the public in Hong Kong.   The vaccination centre played a crucial role at the time when the epidemic situation was at its most severe, Mr Nip noted.   After the jab centre at HKU closes, there will still be over 20 CVCs serving members of the public. The number of designated Hospital Authority general outpatient clinics providing a COVID-19 vaccination service by reservation has increased to 43.   Citizens can also opt to go to the 13 Hospital COVID-19 vaccination stations, over 1,000 private doctors and clinics providing the Sinovac vaccination service, and the 76 venues operated by private healthcare institutions providing the BioNTech vaccine, and more.   Mr Nip pointed out that the vaccination quotas of other CVCs are still abundant and quotas are available. Regardless of age, people should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of serious illness and death should they get infected.   Click here for details of the channels for free COVID-19 vaccination.
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