External Trade
Hong Kong's external trade experienced a moderate growth in
1997, with total trade increasing by 4.7 per cent over the
previous year. In particular, re-exports registered a 5.0 per
cent increase, reflecting the continued important role of Hong
Kong as an entrepot. The gross total value of re-exports was
$1,244.5 billion. Imports also rose by 5.2 per cent to $1,615.1
billion.
In 1996, Hong Kong was the world's seventh-largest trading
entity in terms of value of merchandise trade; the
fourth-largest if all Member States of the European Union are
counted as a single entity. In 1997, it recorded a trade deficit
of $159 billion with total exports at $1,455.9 billion and
imports at $1,615.1 billion.
Its largest trading partner is the Mainland of China, followed
by the USA and Japan. Appendices 20, 21 and 22 provide
summary statistics of external trade.
|
