Some 45% of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the fourth quarter of 2003. The proportion was 68% for domestic exports and 44% for re-exports. But 75% of Hong Kong's imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing.

Over the same period, 80% of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing across the boundary.

In value terms, $92 billion of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland in the fourth quarter were for outward processing, up 25% over the fourth quarter of 2002.

The value of domestic exports to the Mainland for outward processing fell 9% to $6.2 billion while the value of re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing rose 29% to $85.8 billion.

Over the same period of comparison, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing rose 10% to $160.1 billion.

Some $165.3 billion of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland, up 1%.

44% of exports to Mainland for outward processing

For all of last year, 44% of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing. The figure was 68% for domestic exports and 43% for re-exports.

On the other hand, 72% of Hong Kong's imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing.

Over the same period, 79% of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland.

The corresponding proportions in 2002 were 45% for total exports to the Mainland, 70% for domestic exports to the Mainland, 43% for re-exports to the Mainland, 74% for imports from the Mainland and 83% for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places.

In value terms, in 2003, $326.1 billion of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing, up 17%.

The value of domestic exports to the Mainland for outward processing fell 14% to $24.9 billion while re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing rose 21% to $301.2 billion.

Over the same period of comparison, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing rose 6% to $564.9 billion.

Some $603.5 billion of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing on the Mainland, up 1%.