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Feb exports value down 0.8%

The value of Hong Kong’s total exports decreased to $284.1 billion in February, down 0.8% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.   The value of imports of goods fell 1.8% to $325.7 billion for the same period.   A trade deficit of $41.7 billion, or 12.8% of the value of imports, was recorded in February.   Comparing the three-month period ending February with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of exports rose 5.5%, while that of imports also increased 3.3%.   The Government noted that taking the first two months of the year together to remove the volatility caused by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year, the value of exports posted a 16.6% growth against a very low base of comparison a year ago.   Exports to the Mainland and the US rose notably, while those to the European Union fell. Those to other major Asian markets recorded a mixed performance.   Looking ahead, the Gove

Choi Yuk-lin lauds HK at UK forum

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today attended the Education World Forum in London in an effort to deliberate on future education policies together with education officials from different places.   In the morning, Ms Choi delivered a speech titled "Use of Technology in Education" at a keynote session of the forum, introducing the holistic approach of the Education Bureau to support schools and teachers in the application of technologies in teaching.   She said that Hong Kong is a small city with high information technology (IT) infrastructure penetration, which helps place it among the world's best in terms of digital competitiveness.   She added that the bureau is committed to enhancing the IT infrastructure and teaching resources for schools. Under the technology education curriculum, the bureau is working to promote coding and computational thinking to enhance students' creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as their ability to apply technology in different aspects of life.   The bureau also offers professional development programmes for school leaders and teachers, covering the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, Ms Choi pointed out.   Additionally, it has developed the Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students learning framework to foster students' ability and attitude to use information and communication technology ethically and effectively.   In the afternoon, the education chief visited Queen Mary University of London to learn about its programmes on applied sciences and digital technologies, and explore co-operation opportunities between the university and higher education institutions in Hong Kong.   She emphasised that Hong Kong is blessed with world-class tertiary institutions and offers a host of facilitation measures to support non-local students who are welcome to undertake study and exchange programmes in the city.   Ms Choi also met Israel’s Minister of Education Yoav Kisch, the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science & Higher Education Nurbek Sayasat and Pakistan’s Minister of Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training of the Government Rana Tanveer Hussain in the margins of the forum.   They discussed the strengthening of education co-operation and knowledge exchange between Hong Kong and their countries.   Yesterday, Ms Choi met the UK's Minister of State in the Department for Education Nick Gibb and Director for Education & Skills of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development Andreas Schleicher to exchange views on various education issues.   She also met representatives of the Cambridge Partnership for Education to understand the institution's experience in supporting enhancement of the quality of education systems.   On May 8, Ms Choi met Global Technical & Vocational Education & Training Specialist of the Department for Business & Trade of the UK Jonathan Ledger and Jane Rexworthy, the chairperson of a vocational education organisation, the UK Skills Partnership.   During such meetings, she learnt about the UK's technical and vocational education and training policy, system and curricula and students' development pathways, as well as ways to explore potential collaboration on vocational and professional education and training between Hong Kong and the UK in future.
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