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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

CE inspects control point

Chief Executive John Lee visited the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Futian) Control Point today, the first day of the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, to view the arrangements for people crossing the boundary.   Mr Lee was briefed on the arrangements and spoke to members of the public during the visit, and said he was satisfied with the smooth operation on the resumption of normal travel.   Noting that all the relevant boundary control points were operating well and people could travel across the boundary smoothly, he noted that the travel resumption must proceed in an orderly and safe manner.   Mr Lee added that the relevant authorities will closely monitor the situation, including the arrangements before and after the Lunar New Year holidays, to come up with a plan for realising the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland in a secure and manageable way.
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