HK-mainland trade slumps

The Chinese mainland's trade with Hong Kong totaled $46.92 billion in the first two months of the year, slumping 21.4 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce revealed on Wednesday.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong dropped 20.9 percent year on year to 45.27 billion U.S. dollars during the Jan-Feb period. Hong Kong's exports to the mainland totaled 1.65 billion U.S. dollars, down 33.2 percent year on year, according to figures released by the ministry.

Mainland authorities approved 1,393 Hong Kong-invested projects during the period, a year-on-year decrease of 3.5 percent, the ministry said.

Hong Kong's investment in the mainland increased 22.4 percent year on year to 12.7 billion U.S. dollars during the period, it said.

In February, the mainland's trade with Hong Kong decreased by 27.9 percent from the previous month to 19.66 billion U.S. dollars.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong in February dropped 27.8 percent from the previous month to 18.98 billion U.S. dollars. Hong Kong's exports to the mainland totaled 670 million U.S. dollars, a decrease of 31.6 percent month on month, according to the ministry.