This year's first quarter saw $85.4 billion of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland for outward processing, up 9% over the same period last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The value of domestic exports and re-exports to the Mainland for outward processing also rose 9%, to $4.6 billion and $80.7 billion.

The value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing increased 14% to $169 billion. Another $173.6 billion of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, representing a 4% growth.

A total of 34% of Hong Kong's total exports to the Mainland in this year's first quarter were for outward processing. The proportion was 51% for domestic exports and 34% for re-exports.

About 66% of Hong Kong's imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing, and 79% of Hong Kong's re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.

The corresponding proportions for exports to the Mainland in the same period last year were 38% for total exports, 54% for domestic exports and 37% for re-exports. The proportions for imports from the Mainland and for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were 67% and 80%.