HK-mainland trade drops in Q1

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland's trade with Hong Kong totaled $64.32 billion in the first quarter of 2016, down 3.6 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The value accounted for 8 percent of the mainland's total overseas trade in the first three months, the ministry's figures show.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong hit $60.53 billion, a decrease of 6.5 percent year on year, while the mainland's imports from the region saw a sharp increase of 90.8 percent to $3.79 billion.

Hong Kong is the mainland's fourth-largest trade partner and third-largest export market, according to the ministry.

The mainland approved 2,833 Hong Kong-invested projects from January to March this year, with the actual use of Hong Kong capital reaching $19.66 billion, down 20.7 percent from the same period of last year.