XN000022-1995-05-19 — Page 12

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The corresponding proportions in 1993 were 48% for total exports to China, 74% for domestic exports to China, 42% for re-exports to China, 74% for imports from China and 81% for re-exports of China origin to all countries other than China.

To provide a better understanding of the nature and importance of outward processing in China initiated by Hong Kong firms, the Census & Statistics Department has been conducting a sample survey as from the third quarter of 1988 to distinguish Hong Kong's exports to China into those which are for outward processing and those which are not.

The scope of the survey has been extended as from the first quarter of 1989 to segregate Hong Kong's imports from China into those which are related to outward processing and those which are not. Starting from the first quarter of 1991, the scope of the survey has further been extended to cover Hong Kong's re-exports of China origin to all countries other than China.

The results for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 1994 are now available.

In value terms, $49,395 million of Hong Kong's total exports to China in the fourth quarter of 1994 were for outward processing, representing an increase of 13% over the fourth quarter of 1993. The value of domestic exports to China for outward processing decreased by 11% to $10,593 million whilst the value of re-exports to China for outward processing grew by 23% to $38,801 million.

Over the same period of comparison, the value of imports from China related to outward processing increased by 11% to $92,303 million. On the other hand, $117,312 million of Hong Kong's re-exports of China origin to all countries other than China were produced through outward processing in China, representing an increase of 18%.

In 1994, $181,179 million of Hong Kong's total exports to China were for outward processing, representing an increase of 13% over 1993. The value of domestic exports to China for outward processing dropped by 7% to $41,959 million while the value of re-exports to China for outward processing grew by 21% to $139,221 million.

Over the same period of comparison, the value of imports from China related to outward processing increased by 20% to $354,912 million. On the other hand, $422,544 million of Hong Kong's re-exports of China origin to all countries other than China were produced through outward processing in China, representing an increase of 16%.