XN000022-1996-08-15 — Page 4

3 -

While touring the offices, she was briefed by the department's directorate staff on the works of their respective areas, including airport and port access projects, Lantau fixed crossing project and major works projects such as Tuen Mun Road improvement works, Hung Hom bypass and Lung Cheung Road/Ching Cheung Road improvement works.

Models of some of these projects were also inspected by Mrs Chan.

Mrs Chan was also briefed on the recent and future development of railway developments in the territory and called on the department's Reporting Centre and Emergency Control Centre.

After the tour in Highways Department headquarters, Mrs Chan went to the Princess Margaret Hospital Government School of General Nursing and Quarters to obtain an updated brief from Highways officials on Airport Core Programme works in Kwai Chung.

End

Statistics on trade involving outward processing in China

In the first quarter of 1996, 43% of Hong Kong's total exports to China were for outward processing; the figure was 71% for domestic exports, and 39% for re-exports.

On the other hand, 82% of Hong Kong's imports from China were related to outward processing, according to statistics released today (Thursday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

Over the same period, 86% of Hong Kong's re-exports of China origin to all countries other than China were produced through outward processing in China.

The corresponding proportions in the first quarter of 1995 were 49% for total exports to China, 68% for domestic exports to China, 45% for re-exports to China, 76% for imports from China and 83% 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 Ilong Kong firms, the Census and 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.