HK-mainland trade slumps

The Chinese mainland's trade with Hong Kong totaled 132.05 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of 2014, down 26.6 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce revealed on Tuesday.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong dropped 26.4 percent year on year to 127.36 billion dollars during the January-May period. Hong Kong's exports to the mainland totaled 4.69 billion dollars, slumping 31.9 percent year on year, according to figures released by the ministry.

Mainland authorities approved 4,363 Hong Kong-invested projects during the period, a year-on-year increase of 0.1 percent, the ministry said.

Hong Kong's investment in the mainland meanwhile increased 14.8 percent year on year to 32.27 billion dollars, it added.

In May, the mainland's trade with Hong Kong increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month to 28.56 billion dollars.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong in May increased 2.4 percent from April to 27.73 billion dollars. Hong Kong's exports to the mainland totaled 830 million dollars, a decrease of 22.4 percent month on month, according to the ministry.