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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

Testing compliance checks done

The Government today completed enforcement operations at Block 6 of Hanford Garden in Tuen Mun and Goldwin Heights at 2 Seymour Road in Mid-Levels, which were earlier included in compulsory testing notices.   The Civil Service Bureau conducted the Tuen Mun enforcement action from around 8.30am to 11.30am, while the Central & Western District Office carried out the Mid-Levels operation from around 8am to 11am.   Both actions were conducted together with Police and the Department of Health.   The Government arranged for staff to verify the testing certifications of people subject to compulsory testing at the buildings’ entrances and exits.   During the operations, the test records of about 200 people in Block 6 of Hanford Garden and about 430 people in Goldwin Heights were checked.   As a result, seven people in total were found to have violated the compulsory testing notice and were issued with a compulsory testing order.    A fixed penalty notice of $10,000 was also issued to four of them.
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