Report says Hong Kong is world’s top trade enabler
Hong Kong leads the world in terms of enabling trade, according to a June 18 report that measures and analyzes factors enabling trade in 118 industrialized and emerging economies around the world.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang welcomed the report.

100-day countdown begins for Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
The 100-day countdown ceremony to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games was held at the Hong Kong Central Library on May 28.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau noted, “Twenty-one athletes will represent Hong Kong in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, competing in eight events: equestrian sports, athletics, boccia, wheelchair fencing, table tennis, shooting, rowing and weightlifting.  

Olympic public health drill concludes
The overall preparedness and response of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and related organizations to public health incidents during the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events was put to the test on June 6 during a full-scale exercise.

Code-named “Equator,” the exercise aimed to validate interdepartmental procedures and contingency plans on possible public health incidents during the equestrian events and to further enhance coordination and cooperation among government departments.

Hong Kong retains strong international investment position
Hong Kong’s international investment position (IIP) remains strong, with net external financial assets of US$521.88 billion at end-2007, up US$5.25 billion compared to end-2006. The figure corresponds to 252% of GDP in 2007, according to the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

At end-2007, Hong Kong’s external financial assets and liabilities amounted to US$2.73 trillion and US$2.20 trillion, respectively.

Total port cargo throughput up 14% in first quarter
In the first quarter of 2008, Hong Kong’s total port cargo throughput increased 14% compared to a year earlier to 62.6 million metric tons, according to the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo grew 12% and 17% compared to a year earlier to 36.3 million metric tons and 26.3 million metric tons, respectively.