XN000022-1976-04-02 — Page 2

Friday, April 2, 1976

VALUE OF FEBRUARY EXPORTS UP BY »477 MILLION

The value of Hong Kong's domestic exports for February amounted to

1,749 million, representing an increase of 4477 million or 37.5 per cent,

by value, compared with the same month last year.

According to provisional trade figures issued by the Census and Statistics Department today, the value of imports increased by 38.5 per cent

to $2,983 million while the value of re-exports went up by 31.5 per cent, to

#638 million compared with February 1975.

Commenting on the trade figures, a spokesman for the Commerce and

Industry department said that as anticipated the percentage increase in the

value of Hong Kong's domestic exports for February 1976, compared with the

same month in 1975, was not as high as the 58 per cent increase recorded in

January 1976 compared to January 1975.

"However, the figures for January 1976 were rather exceptional and

the February figures reflect the more gradual monthly increases in the value

of Hong Kong's domestic exports which have occurred since the present upward

trend started in September 1975," he added.

The figures for the 12-month period from March 1975 to February 1976

compared with those of the previous 12-month period showed increases, by

value, of 8.3 per cent for domestic exports, 4.3 per cent for imports and

5.5 per cent for re-exports.

Note to Editors:

The following table with comparative figures is given for your

reference:

/Domestic